The idea behind this painting is inspired by the saying “there are many fish in the sea/waters”. Here, it alludes to the feminine sentimentality of enjoying how men find women attractive and intriguing, without giving any chance of romantical involvement or the lack of such intention from either side. It is an empowering feeling that fights against the traditional stigma of how a woman should be in a relationship just to feel “completed” based on social standards.
The imagery used is inspired by the fish-scooping game at Japanese summer festival, with some of the fish being koi fish which has the same sound as the word “koi” meaning “romantic love”. By letting all the fish pass through without actually scooping any, one evades the purpose of this game though they exist in the same flow. Since I don’t draw the water, the way the hair flows should indicate the water flow and somehow resemble aquatic plants for the fish to swim through.