"La Jaula," which translates to "the cage," is a self-portraiture project born from the psychological trauma caused by the male stereotype in colonial culture. The ongoing series (2021—present) consists of black-and-white nude self-portraits, scenic design, and exciting and alarming body placements. They are naturally rebellious and revealing—a visual conversation about colonized bodies, immigration, and mental health.

"La Jaula" began to develop two years after I left Puerto Rico as a decompression tool. It allows me to identify and understand the wounds inflicted by delirious societal, religious, and Western standards. First, I included different objects to shield myself. Yet, once the work began to develop, my body slowly gained confidence, removing motion and objects that limited the visibility of the skin. After further connecting with the project, my mind yearned to explore this new state of comfort in my homeland, and this unveiled a new connection represented by nudity and rebellion. The project intends to create two-way conversations between the self and oppressors while positioning self-portraiture as a powerful communication method.

Research for other nude self-portrait artists fell short due to the lack of male practitioners. There is still a rejection of the softness and vulnerability within masculine men, as macho culture reduces the naked body into a defenseless object unable to serve its assigned role. On October 2022, I discovered Francesca Woodman's work and quickly developed a strong affinity towards it, finding that our emotional and technical processes are very similar. In a way, I believe part of my work relates to her message, now through the male gaze.

La Jaula

The Grief Garden

Simultaneously Beginning and Ending