Nacemos, crecemos y sobrevivimos donde nos da la gana is a hand-cut paper sculpture inspired by Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, one of the most important deities in Mesoamerican culture. Often associated with knowledge, creation, art, culture, and civilization, Quetzalcóatl becomes a metaphor for the resilience and continuity of Mexican identity across borders.

As a Mexican immigrant living in the United States, I have experienced how migration extends beyond the movement of people. We carry our traditions, language, music, food, celebrations, and memories with us wherever we go. Borders may separate countries, but they cannot contain culture.

In this piece, children play, climb, and travel alongside the body of Quetzalcóatl, embodying the next generation that carries these traditions forward. Each child represents a fragment of cultural identity: music, fútbol, our national flag, food, joy, and community. Together they suggest that culture is not static—it grows, adapts, and survives wherever people make a home.

Every element of the composition was individually hand-cut from acid-free paper and meticulously assembled by hand using archival PVA adhesive. Through the labor-intensive process of layering paper, I seek to honor the care with which cultural traditions are preserved, passed down, and continually reimagined.