Each year, the fragile-winged creatures that are scattered through Lucas Foglia’s latest book Constant Bloom embark on a monumental journey. In search of wildflowers, Painted Lady butterflies follow the same route they have followed for millions of years between Africa, the Middle East and Europe—a migratory cycle of 15,000km that has only recently been mapped out thanks to the Worldwide Painted Lady Migration Project.
Over the course of three years, Foglia traced the path of the longest butterfly migration. Across vastly different landscapes he photographed both the butterflies and the people they encountered along the way. Some were refugees following a similar route to Europe. More resilient than its delicate appearance might suggest, the Painted Lady is—like us—having to adapt to our changing world. In Foglia’s photographic study of the longest butterfly migration, human and non-humans share a landscape, connected across borders.
In this interview for LensCulture, Foglia talks to Sophie Wright about learning to spot Painted Ladies, the people that make up Constant Bloom and the hope that sprung from observing this extraordinary natural phenomenon.