As a child, I often imagined meeting my future self – now, I find myself reflecting on what it would be like to interact with my childhood self. In this series, I project childlike drawings of myself into my present life, creating a visual dialogue between memory, identity, and space. By portraying her dreaming in my bed, painting with paint and colored pencils, and holding my hand, I archive a version of myself that bridges past and present. These interactions are intended to use body and personal surroundings into a canvas, exploring how childhood and adulthood intertwine, particularly in embracing the wonder and curiosity of youth.

Centered on the house I grew up in, this series examines its exterior doors as thresholds of memory and connection. I aimed to capture a sense of warmth and welcome with each open door and the strong yellow tones of the walls. Each door opens to a different part of the house, and I sought to reflect this through their surroundings, capturing variety by presenting some doors fully open and others slightly ajar. By focusing on this familiar space, I aimed to convey my perception of home’s enduring presence and its role as a landscape.

Formal Properties: This series will show incomplete puzzles with projected images related to my identity. For example, I might work on a puzzle of a Talavera tile surrounded by Mexican decorations. The settings will match the imagery, creating a connection between the puzzle and the real-life environment.

Concept: The series explores identity as something assembled piece by piece. By projecting meaningful images onto unfinished puzzles, I aim to highlight the process of self-discovery. The settings add context, tying the imagery to personal and cultural identity.

Formal Properties: These photos will feature older family photos projected onto blank surfaces like canvas, paper, or walls. For example, a childhood photo of my cousins and me might be projected onto lined paper while I trace over it. The settings and lighting will be simple, keeping the focus on the act of tracing and the projection itself.

Concept: This series reflects on memory and family. The use of different materials, like paper or canvas, adds a layer of meaning by representing how memories take shape in various ways.

Formal Properties: Photos will be taken in a darkened home, with projector light creating holographic images. Scenes might show hands reaching out, a glowing meal on an empty plate, or a figure lying next to me on a bed. The compositions will focus on the contrast between bright projections and the dark, empty surroundings.

Concept: This series explores longing and the absence of connection. By projecting these images onto myself and my environment, I aim to evoke feelings of isolation, using faceless poses and the illusion of presence to highlight what’s missing.

Through these photographs, I aimed to capture the resilience of beauty across the stages of a candle’s life, symbolizing the flow of human experience. Each image reveals a new incarnation – from untouched stillness of the candle and its wick to a smokey end – with colors and forms that illustrate emotional shifts along this journey. The candle’s light flickers, wavers, and ultimately fades. This series reflects a discovery of grace in transformation and the enduring beauty that persists amid life’s changing moments.