Sueños
accordion book
Sueños is a handmade accordion book that was made for in response to my Senior Thesis theme of superficiality. The American dream is a superficial promise that masks the difficult realities of the immigrant experience. I wanted to explore that through my parents' own immigrant experience of navigating their new lives in the U.S. It encapsulates the struggles of living in a new country, learning a new language, and the intimidating nature of it. Their experiences describe the pain and loneliness of leaving one's home behind while trying to build a new home in a place that is strange and unwelcoming at times. My parents left their country at a young age with dreams and aspirations of being able to build a home in the U.S.
The American Dream is prominent in the Mexican-American diaspora, as many like myself who are first-generation Mexican Americans have grown up hearing the stories of our parents' experiences as immigrants. We have also seen our parents working every day without a day off, in the sunshine or rain, in laborious jobs to make ends meet. We have seen the struggle of our families and the agony that our parents put themselves through to help their children be able to attain a better life. With that expectation in mind, it is very difficult for Latinos and many immigrants in the U.S to achieve their dreams due to discrimination, exploitation, and xenophobia.
This book was sewn together and built by hand. The paper was made using recycled paper and sewn together to represent the labor that my family has done and continues to do to survive in the U.S. Each written experience comes from both my parents and is written in Spanish and English on both sides. It represents their journey and longing to exist in a place that is not welcoming to strangers, yet their determination and courage allow my parents to persevere.
This book is very much dedicated to my parents, children of immigrants, and many people who are immigrants who have left their countries to find a better home, better life, and better opportunities, but have faced many hardships and barriers along the way.
You belong and you are seen.
The American Dream is prominent in the Mexican-American diaspora, as many like myself who are first-generation Mexican Americans have grown up hearing the stories of our parents' experiences as immigrants. We have also seen our parents working every day without a day off, in the sunshine or rain, in laborious jobs to make ends meet. We have seen the struggle of our families and the agony that our parents put themselves through to help their children be able to attain a better life. With that expectation in mind, it is very difficult for Latinos and many immigrants in the U.S to achieve their dreams due to discrimination, exploitation, and xenophobia.
This book was sewn together and built by hand. The paper was made using recycled paper and sewn together to represent the labor that my family has done and continues to do to survive in the U.S. Each written experience comes from both my parents and is written in Spanish and English on both sides. It represents their journey and longing to exist in a place that is not welcoming to strangers, yet their determination and courage allow my parents to persevere.
This book is very much dedicated to my parents, children of immigrants, and many people who are immigrants who have left their countries to find a better home, better life, and better opportunities, but have faced many hardships and barriers along the way.
You belong and you are seen.