Fruits of My Labor

Fruits of My Labor is a paper drawing transformed into a three-dimensional work through the careful layering of modeling paste on the fruit crown, sections of the head, hands, pomegranate, and legs. This piece serves as a commentary on today’s political climate, including the war on women’s autonomy and healthcare following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, as well as the targeting of Latino communities through ICE raids on migrant workers.

The work is a self-portrait, emphasizing the personal impact these issues have had on me. I wear a veil for several reasons. First, it allows the viewer to experience the universality of how these political realities affect all of us. The fruits symbolize migrant workers, while also referencing women’s fertility. The placement of the pomegranate between the legs functions as a metaphor for the “fruits of our labor” and reflects how, even as subjects within large-scale narratives and systems, we often remain voiceless and faceless.