Hoy No Es Mi Día De Morir (2004) is another striking work by Juan Roberto Diago that continues his exploration of survival, identity, and the human experience under duress. In this piece, Diago uses the head of a doll, perhaps to further emphasize the notion of dehumanization and the fragile nature of identity in a context marked by scarcity and hardship.

The title, Hoy No Es Mi Día De Morir ("Today Is Not My Day to Die"), is a poignant statement of resilience. It suggests that, despite the harsh realities depicted in the artwork, the individual is not yet defeated. The doll’s head—an object that is often symbolic of innocence or childhood—becomes a vessel for deeper reflections on the loss of innocence, the trauma of survival, and the complex relationship between life and death in a setting where the daily struggle for survival is a constant.

The use of the doll's head, often associated with domesticity or youth, starkly contrasts with the grim and tough subject matter Diago confronts in his work. It serves as a symbol of the human desire to maintain some semblance of identity and humanity, even in the face of extreme adversity. By isolating and distorting the head, Diago challenges the viewer to reconsider the notion of personhood and selfhood in a society that has, in many ways, abandoned its people.

As with his other works, Diago’s mastery of mixed media is evident here—through the use of found objects, scrap materials, and the manipulation of everyday items, he creates a powerful dialogue between materiality and meaning. The inclusion of the doll's head, in particular, invites the viewer to reflect on both the psychological and physical scars left by years of political, social, and economic instability.

Ultimately, Hoy No Es Mi Día De Morir is a declaration of endurance—a statement that, despite everything, the fight for life persists, if only for another day. It challenges the viewer to confront the struggles of survival and the struggle to maintain one's sense of self in a world that seems bent on erasing both.