Inspiration for the piece:

An Aztec legend says that the hummingbird was chosen by the god Huitzilopochtli to be the messenger of the underworld and bring messages to the loved ones of the deceased. Hummingbirds symbolize a variety of positive attributes including joy, resilience, healing and good luck. They are often seen as messengers of love. Additionally, hummingbirds embody qualities like adaptability, perseverance and the ability to find joy in the present moment.

Despite their small size, hummingbirds are know for the incredible resilience and ability to overcome challenges, such as their long migration. Their unique ability to to fly in all directions (forward, backward, sideways and hover) is a reminder of the adaptability and freedom to embrace change. They symbolize perseverance and determination to pursue one's goal. The hummingbird's energetic and joyful nature reminds us to live in the present moment and appreciate the simple pleasures in life.

Time is the most valuable thing that we take for granted in life. We wake up every day, and we get to choose to evolve and transform our lives or to simply look at time go by. It is our decision to embrace the challenges that life brings upon us. We have the power to invest our limited time in the most productive way imaginable, but sometimes distractions, fear or circumstances out of our control get in the way of achieving our goals in order to find our purpose in life.

In my piece, the hummingbird inside the hourglass represents the resilience and perseverance that you must liberate within yourself in order to evolve. The heart represents the very limited time that we have to find our purpose in life. The two flowers on the side represent the options in life, and the butterfly and hummingbird on the outside symbolize your awaiting transformation.

"Don't just look at time. go by, discover you purpose in life, transform like a butterfly, escape your fears, embrace the change and fly towards your purpose like hummingbird.

Artist statement:

A life without art will be a life with no purpose. If you look around, you will see art on everything and anything. Through art, I was able to maintain my freedom in the only way possible, which is mentally. I'm very intentional when it comes down to finding ways to escape from the constant reminder of being in prison, and art gave me that possibility. Art has been my coping mechanism, it gives me a world of possibilities to explore my creativity and enhance my mind. Art gives me patience, determination, dedication and the discipline to achieve a purpose. It is the best way to invest my time in an environment where you can easily get lost in despair. The only way I can escape from prison is through art. I'm hopeful that my piece can resonate with you and give you the inspiration you need to invest your time in the best way possible. Prison has taught me to value time and to not take anything for granted, whether it is a good thing or a bad thing; embrace the challenges that life brings upon you, and use them to grow, have the resilience to develop a better version of yourself to have a legacy that you can be proud of.