This work uses my mother's immigration documents as a vehicle for storytelling and a lens for exploring time and identity. The pursuit of the "American Dream," often portrayed as a path to freedom and opportunity, has evolved into a means of escape from trauma, grief, and financial instability. In this pursuit, individuals often sacrifice their past lives, cultural roots, and personal histories to align with the idealized image of American freedom.

But at what cost? How does this commodification of the "American Dream" strip immigrants of their heritage and identity? Everything has a price, and the promise of a better life in America often demands the erasure of culture and history. This work questions the toll of immigration in the United States, asking: What does it mean to be an immigrant in a land that markets freedom while quietly demanding assimilation?

the american dream is so simple, you just need a little currency!

reclaimed wood, plywood, canvas, acrylic, immigration documents, stamp

40 x 30 inches