The work draws on the butterfly as a symbol of metamorphosis and beauty.

“Mariposa” is the Spanish word for butterfly. It is also used as a derogatory term for gay men in some regions of Latin America.

The form itself refers to a graphic design of Aztec origin.

The Aztecs believed that butterflies were the souls of deceased warriors.

The piece alludes to the myth of the rising Phoenix.





Photo by Elizabeth K. Ho