Before I quit vaping and smoking, my body became adapted to, and dependent on, my nicotine consumption. This habit became so deeply intertwined with my daily life that once it was gone, it often felt like something was missing. This photo grid addresses the physical oral fixation that develops from constantly bringing something to your lips, and your brain chemically rewarding you for it as you inhale nicotine. In a pop-art style, it depicts different means of soothing this oral fixation, as many who attempt to quit smoking or vaping have experienced firsthand.
Marco Muia is a visual artist primarily working in photography and other lens-based media. He mainly creates documentary and personally reflective projects, aiming to create an index of his own experiences through art.