Series: Light and Memory in the Landscape of Soconuscoço. This series is inspired by the rural landscapes of Soconusco, in Chiapas, Mexico, where since childhood I have traveled country paths during horseback rides with my father. During those journeys I often take photographs that later become paintings, as a way of preserving the memory of places that continue to inhabit my story. In these works, monumental trees appear—such as a young ceiba—alongside palms, banana plants, and other tropical species that form the dense vegetation of southeastern Mexico. The ceiba, deeply present in this region, has long been considered a sacred tree within Mayan cosmology. I created this piece using miniature brushes, slowly building layers of vegetation to capture the depth of the foliage and the atmosphere of the tropics. The gold leaf in the background suggests sunlight filtering through the leaves, bringing luminosity to the composition. In the trunk of the ceiba, a small sprout appears—a growth bud that resembles an eye. It is a natural detail that I like to interpret as the silent gaze of the tree: living Creation observing, protecting, and reflecting the greatness of its Creator.