Urban animals challenge the division between humanity and nature. In existing and thriving in our built environments, they illuminate that we are deeply interdependent. For my Watson Fellowship, a one-year grant for purposeful, independent exploration outside of the United States, I explored how human relationships with urban animals affect perceptions of “nature” versus “civilization” on a global scale – and how these variations influence the way we perform environmental stewardship, advocacy, and care. Through observation and study, and my photography, I sought to promote multispecies kinship and understanding, reimagining what symbiotic and sustainable relationships might be possible in our cities moving forward.
I spent the majority of my year living in India, Australia, and Italy, photographing urban animals and interviewing ecologists, Indigenous scholars, and climate activists about their paths to environmental stewardship. I learned a lot about humanity along the way. Watch a recording of my final presentation here, delivered in-person before the Watson Foundation on August 1st, 2024.
