'Commonwealth' is a visual exploration of how insects and plants adapt and work together to survive in spite of widespread habitat destruction and climate change.
'Commonwealth' provides a counternarrative to the popular perception of invasive and exotic species. Labelling flora and fauna as invasive is often used to lay blame on non-human species for the damage caused by colonialism and habitat destruction. The series focuses on exotic/invasive insects and plants that provide some benefit to native species in environments disturbed by human development. In reflecting on how invasive species are treated by society, we also reflect on unconscious biases toward other in-groups and out-groups that are labelled as ‘native’ and ‘alien’.
