Ruben Ochoa's multifaceted practice explores the manufactured character of the urban environment, which encroaches on the landscape, marginalizing both humans and nature. Ochoa captured this image as part of a series of photographs of ficus trees growing through sidewalks in southern California. Although the trees thrive and are ubiquitous, they are not native to the area. Ochoa, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico, calls attention to the many individuals whose roots, despite beginning elsewhere, are now firmly grounded in the United States. This image serves as a poignant metaphor for those who seek a more secure life and break through the barriers of hostile or repressive environments to flourish.