Los Angeles Celebrates its Diversity with ‘Human Atlas’ project Exploring DNA, Oral Histories, and Portraits of 100 Local Leaders
LOS ANGELES—What does it mean to be an Angeleno in the 21st century? A groundbreaking interactive project, Alta: A Human Atlas of a City of Angels, delves into this question by capturing the essence of 100 Los Angeles leaders through their oral histories, portraits, and even their genetic heritage.
The enterprising project, commissioned by the Getty Conservation Institute, spotlights a diverse array of individuals nominated by their fellow Angelenos. From teenage environmental activist Genesis Marie Butler to civil rights lawyer Manju Kulkarni and actor and arts advocate Cheech marin, the atlas presents a multifaceted view of Los Angeles.
Marcus Lyon, the London-based artist behind the project, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the participants. “It’s a big step, people trusting me – a stranger – with their DNA,” Lyon said. The DNA samples, analyzed by a Houston-based lab, provide a deeper understanding of each individual’s ancestry and contribute to a broader portrait of the city’s origins.
The project’s website, https://www.ahumanatlas.com/artworks/alta/, features infographics that detail each person’s origins. Lyon explained that analyzing the DNA data revealed that the moast common places of origin were the indigenous Americas. “These DNA traces, they’re not even traces,” Lyon said. “They’re there, and they’re big, and that’s a fantastic thing to celebrate. These are the people who were always here.”
Alta: A Human Atlas of a City of angels is accessible through multiple platforms. Along with the website, an app is available for download, and a companion book has been published. The intersections podcast features the stories of the subjects, with Chicana activist and musician Martha Gonzalez as host and original music by Brian eno.
For those who prefer a visual experience, all 100 portraits are on display at the L.A. Public Library downtown until April 27th. The exhibit, located on the first floor of the Central Library, showcases the subjects against a stark white backdrop.
among the recognizable faces are labor leader Dolores Huerta and Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries. The project also highlights a younger generation of advocates, like Scarlett Paulina De Leon, a housing activist, and Louis Tse, a rocket scientist who leads a nonprofit for unhoused college students. The aggregate of their images capture the city’s multiculturalism.
