"La Jaula," which translates to "the cage," is born from emotional and psychological trauma caused by the male body stereotype in Puerto Rican culture. The ongoing series (2021—present) consists of black-and-white nude self-portraits, scene fabrication, and placing my body in situations that are exciting or alarming; for some. They are naturally rebellious and carry a confession, an honest unveiling of psychological shifts. The placement is particularly important as it acts as an invitation into how I view my world. Every photograph is me.

"La Jaula" began to develop two years after I left the island to cope with insecurities inflicted by delirious societal standards and the need for paternal approval. First, I included different objects to shield myself, yet once the work began to develop, my body slowly gained confidence, removing motion and objects that limited the visibility of the skin. After further connecting with the project, my mind yearned to explore this new state of comfort in my homeland, and this unveiled a new connection now represented by nudity and a sense of belonging. The project intends to create two-way conversations between the self and those who share similar experiences while positioning self-portraiture as a powerful communication method.

Research for other nude self-portrait artists has proven difficult due to the lack of male practitioners. There is still a rejection of the softness and vulnerability within masculine men, as macho culture reduces the naked body into a defenseless object unable to serve its assigned role. On October 2022, I discovered Francesca Woodman's work and quickly developed a strong affinity, finding that our emotional process is similar. In a way, I believe part of my work is an interpretation of the message she was trying to state during her time, now through the male gaze. The series was selected as my entry project for the 2023 LMCC Arts Center Residency and is scheduled for its first exhibition on January 25, 2024, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.