Sweetheart is a sculptural installation that reimagines the familiar Valentine’s Day candy heart as a confronting reflection on domestic violence and lives lost through intimate partner violence. The large-scale cement hearts mimic the sentimental objects exchanged as symbols of love and affection; however, instead of romantic messages, they carry phrases and language commonly used to dismiss, minimise, or overlook experiences of domestic abuse.

Each heart represents a life lost to domestic violence in Australia. Together, the hearts form a landscape resembling grave markers, transforming a symbol traditionally associated with love into a space of remembrance and mourning. The installation highlights the devastating reality behind the statistics, giving physical presence to the individuals often reduced to numbers.

By contrasting the sweetness and familiarity of the Valentine’s Day heart with the harsh realities of abuse, Sweetheart examines the complexities of love, trust, and violence within intimate relationships. The work challenges the language and attitudes that allow domestic violence to be ignored or normalised, while creating a public space for recognition, reflection, and awareness.

Through the transformation of a familiar cultural symbol into a memorial, Sweetheart asks viewers to consider the lives behind the statistics and the urgent need to acknowledge and address domestic violence within our communities.