John Connelly and Freddy Janka explore the cochineal as a metaphor for the immigrant woman, noting how the female insect was a "hot commodity" exported globally through Spanish monopolies. They discuss how this metaphor applies to Tanya Aguiñiga’s lived experience in the borderlands and her use of indigenous knowledge to understand her multiple identities. Within the project Sangre de Nopal, they highlight a commitment to the indigenous Oaxacan diaspora, featuring field workers whose traditions of embroidered servilletas are showcased in the exhibition. Connelly and Janka frame the cochineal as a critical stand-in for the immigrant woman to provide a deeper understanding of the whole exhibition.