I grew up in a good neighborhood in Mexico, but there was a time when robberies became frequent. I remember one evening during dinner, our car window was broken, and my school bag—along with my chicken stuffed animal, that I got to take home from school—was stolen. Not long after, we suspected the thieves followed us home, later breaking into my grandmother’s house.

In response, my grandmother reinforced every window and opening in the house, even installing a high fence around the indoor garden (pictured to the right). I vividly remember looking up at the fence and thinking of it as a cage—not necessarily a bad one, but a cage nonetheless. Similarly when someone would knock at the door I would peek through the door and the many metal fences in front of it to check who was there. 

This experience has stayed with me, shaping my perspective. The idea of a “cage” has resurfaced throughout my life—sometimes as an invisible barrier I’ve built to protect myself, making it easier to stay within my bubble and cautiously observe the world outside.

This bracelet embodies that feeling, and it’s part of a larger body of work I’m starting to explore. I’m excited to share more of this journey, staying open and vulnerable as I continue to create.