Today we meet artist, writer, and director Kim Watson who’s exhibition TRESPASS, presents powerful black-and-white portraits and narratives of the unhoused, many in L.A’s Skid Row. A project he started at the beginning of the pandemic. Using art as a tool for change, the exhibition brings the Los Angeles community together to see the housing crisis through new eyes while promoting empathy and compassion for those who live in the shadows.

I was born and raised in New York and began my career as a filmmaker directing music videos. It was a wonderful way to develop creatively and I was fortunate to direct Grammy-winning artists and some early Hip-Hop stars. Eventually, directing and writing brought me to Los Angeles, where I currently live with my wife and son.But photography was always a part of my creative toolkit. I was surrounded by music, art and photos taken by my father and uncle. This early influence still feeds me creatively today.

 What are your current artistic inspirations? 

I draw inspiration from everywhere. Gordon Parks inspired me when I was a kid. He wrote music and poetry, directed, and, of course, was one of the most impactful photographers ever. Now, I’m inspired by the new generation of young Black filmmakers and visual artists who bring fresh perspectives to view the world. Samuel Bazawule is a prolific writer, director and musician, and I love how he continues to expand his creative palette. And women like photographer Deana Lawson are bringing us new stories and finally getting the kind of exposure they deserve.

Tell us more about your current project TRESPASS. 

TRESPASS is the result of three years spent shooting and writing about our neighbors who live on the streets of LA. My whole focus is to present them with dignity and respect because this community has been seriously neglected and disparaged for so long. We need to acknowledge them and see the connection between us.

Many of the people I shoot and write about were strangers who became friends and shared the circumstances that led to their being unhoused. They allowed me into their world and they still encourage me to help the public understand how someone could find themselves living on the street. 

What do you hope to challenge or reveal for a viewer through your work?

TRESPASS is all about stripping away myths and misunderstandings about the unhoused while tapping into our collective compassion and empathy. This isn’t an us and them issue. They are not some kind of alien beings who we need to isolate or destroy. I am hoping that the work will open some eyes and hearts so we can connect with those individuals that need our help and support.  

How long have you been helping those experiencing homelessness? What can others do to help? 

I, along with my family, have taken food to the homeless in our community for years, long before starting the project. I think it’s important for everyone to know that you don’t have to be a full-time volunteer to make a difference. Sometimes I just fill a cooler full of bottles of water and ice, then as I’m driving around on errands, I hand them out to people living on the streets. You can wrap up your leftovers from the night before and hand them to someone you recognize as homeless. Just looking someone in the eye and saying hello can change their whole day. Those small gestures mean a lot. 

What does well-being mean to you? 

I’m really glad you brought that up. For me, well-being means one can live in a mental, emotional and physical space that allows them to feel healthy and safe. It doesn’t mean you don’t have problems but it means you are able to cope with those problems because you’re not always in a state of panic. Everyone is dealing with so much stress now—not just the unhoused, but everyone—and it’s difficult to have some peace-of-mind. It’s tough out here, and people are working three jobs or putting in fifty, sixty hours a week to make ends meet. People that made a decent living years ago are now finding themselves unable to afford their apartment or pay the mortgage because rents and interest rates are climbing faster than anyone can keep up with. It’s hard for people to think about their well-being when their very existence is constantly challenged. 

In the recent exhibition of TRESPASS at THE BAG (Bestor Architecture Gallery) in Los Angeles, the photographs were also accompanied by text about the people depicted. How does this multimedia approach deepen the experience?

Writing has always been  part of my creative toolkit, so incorporating it into the exhibition was always the way I envisioned it. It’s the same with music and film clips, which I also used at THE BAG. Each one of these helps me reveal the truth of my subjects and all that they are experiencing. 

As a photographer, how do you navigate sharing other people’s stories and allowing space both for your vision and their trust? 

People can feel your spirit and sense your motives. I’m honored that I’ve been allowed into their world, and I respect and love everyone I meet. They feel that. And I’m grateful that they love me back. So, telling their stories feels totally compatible with my artistic vision.

When I think of the wonderful response to the exhibit, I think of the team of talented friends, who I have known for years and who came together to help make my vision a reality. They care deeply about this issue and have been involved with the unhoused for years.

What is next for you?

The exhibition was just the first of several platforms I’m using to bring TRESPASS to the public. A book of my photographs and writing will be out in late 2023 with Broad Leaf Books, and a documentary film should be completed around that same time. I’d like to expand the exhibition to a large-scale immersive installation that exposes the public to the range of skills and talent our unhoused neighbors possess. 

I believe in using art as a tool for change and the more we can bring the housed and unhoused communities together, the more the public will be motivated to push politicians to take serious action. We can’t sit by and throw pennies at a problem that will take many billions to address.

Website: https://www.kimwatsonart.net/ 

Instagram: @kimwatsonart