At the heart of Cecilia Paredes’ work are photographic self-portraits that operate at the intersection of body art/performance and photography, addressing central questions of migration, identity, and the relationship between nature and culture.
In "I am an Island," part of the artist’s celebrated “Landscapes series,” the artist’s body becomes nearly invisible against ornate floral backgrounds. The visual dissolution of the body serves as a metaphor for migration: the subject is physically present yet perceptually fragmented. In this way, the artist offers a subtle critique of the mechanisms of cultural presence and belonging.