Valley of the Giants began in 2015 as a commissioned installation for AURORA, marking the origin of Mari Hidalgo King’s powerful and enduring series. The work emerged in response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the U.S.–Mexico border and the troubling legal processes surrounding unaccompanied minors. Struck by the images in the media, Hidalgo King turned to the unexpectedly familiar and inviting forms of Air Dancers recasting their playful movements and commercial language into symbols of resilience, memory, and protest. By transforming these recognizable figures into poignant visual commentary, Hidalgo King created a body of work that remains strikingly timely resonating with viewers long after its debut.