The “Washingtonia” series traces the shifting meaning of one of California’s most recognizable symbols. Far from being native to this landscape, palm trees were first introduced by Spanish missionaries for their Christian significance, before being mass-planted in Los Angeles in the early twentieth century. They became part of a deliberate construction of the city’s identity, embodying an image of abundance, exoticism and perpetual sunshine.

A century later, this cultural import has taken on a different meaning. The iconic Washingtonia palms are reaching the end of their lifespan as rising temperatures and water scarcity make them increasingly unsuited to the environment they once helped define. Los Angeles has largely chosen not to replace them. Under extreme heat, compounds released by the palms can also react with traffic pollution to form harmful aerosols. A tree once planted to project prosperity thus becomes entangled with the environmental and public-health challenges of contemporary California.

This reversal lies at the heart of Washingtonia. Hydrocarbon residues collected from the streets of Los Angeles are incorporated into the photographic process.