Battle for Paradise is a powerful photographic series by multimedia artist Jo Cosme. This exhibition is part of Cosme’s larger body of work, Welcome to Paradise: ¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre!, a searing visual investigation into the impacts of neocolonialism and disaster capitalism in Borikén/Puerto Rico.

Using traditional photography and lenticular printing, Cosme brings into sharp focus the jarring contradictions between the glossy luxury marketed to tourists and settlers and the daily struggles faced by native Puerto Ricans. Deeply influenced by Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine, the work exposes how post-disaster recovery efforts—particularly after Hurricane María—were co-opted for profit, exacerbating poverty and displacement for the island’s native population. Today, nearly half of Borikén’s residents live below the poverty line—more than three times the U.S. average.

Displaced to Seattle a year after María, Cosme brings personal urgency and lived experience to her art. Through Battle for Paradise, she challenges mainland audiences to confront their roles in ongoing colonial systems and reflect on the ethics of tourism, land ownership, and solidarity.

“By showing this work in the continental U.S.,” Cosme says, “I hope to spark dialogue around ethical travel, land stewardship, and justice for Borikén/Puerto Rico.”

*More sizes available upon request*