This work showcases the alleys that run along the backyards of residential homes in several Hamilton neighbourhoods. In practice, these alleys serve as parking space for residents; cars can drive through the alley and park behind the yard. Here though, I document the passage of time as it transforms these alleys and the power of nature in reclaiming its land. In areas of the alleys that humans have left unmaintained, wildlife has taken over. There are traces of human life in the household items left behind. Taken together, these photographs bring to light a different kind of place within the city and in between rows of houses, where the alleys run, the forces of nature dominate.
Angela Zheng is a photographer based in Ontario, Canada. Her interests are in urban landscapes and still life. Her current work focuses on highlighting abandoned or decaying buildings, emphasising the economic transformations taking place in the city of Hamilton. Angela is a member of Gallery 1313.