Paper Wings

Paper Wings is an exhibition by Sandra de la Rosa where the artist catalogs her journey in the immigration system by creating an installation consisting of a swarm of monarch butterflies made from 10 years worth of immigration documents. The installation serves to show the challenges faced while navigating the immigration system and the unwavering resilience of undocumented immigrants in the United States. The collection of documents includes five DACA renewal applications and an adjustment of status application. This represents the arduous and fragmented journey experienced by immigrants. Monarch butterflies symbolize both renewal and are often used in pro-immigration movements in the United States. In Paper Wings, these butterflies evoke a sense of freedom, mirroring the artist’s own liberation after a decade of navigating the complexities of the immigration system.