Online dating can be awkward. There are ups and downs, and surprises both good and bad. When Emmie Tsumura entered the world of online dating, she wanted to manifest her experiences for what they were. While immersing herself in online dating, Tsumura noticed issues arising on complex themes such as race, age, gender, culture, and class.
“Most noticeably, being Asian, I was getting veritably different messages from my friends who were white, brown, or black,” said Tsumura. “I wanted to create a space for discussion around these larger societal issues.”
She used illustrations — shared on her Instagram, @okcucumber — to display her experiences in a unique way, and also as a way to cope with some of the messages she was receiving. Most importantly, Tsumura did not want to display dating in a hateful manner, but in a way that would, “explore how we communicate with prospective love interests online, how identity plays out, and how we can get better at all of this.”
Check out more of Tsumura’s work on her Instagram.
More from BUST
‘Bee & Puppycat’ Is The Adorably Empowering Cartoon You’ve Been Waiting For
If Men Received The Same Fashion Advice As Women
Iranian Men Wear Hijab In Solidarity With Women
