March 29 2024
Borders is an exploration of Amsterdam, the city where I live. Each journey begins by (randomly) selecting a 1 km² grid square on my map and attempting to walk its perimeter in the real world. This process often leads me to the overlooked edges of urban spaces-where city life meets the unknown, hidden from the daily routines of most of Amsterdam’s million residents. By focusing on the physical and psychological impact of boundaries, such as motorways, railways, and industrial zones, the project examines how these elements subtly guide our movements and shape our emotional connection to the city. Inspired by psychogeography, Borders delves into the invisible forces that influence how we navigate, perceive, and feel within urban environments.
Through monthly walks, the project documents these transitional spaces, particularly those hiding in plain sight within modern suburbs. As cities like Amsterdam expand far beyond their original boundaries which were established some 750 years ago. These areas reveal unique aspects of urban life. The walks attempt, where possible, to follow cardinal directions-north, south, east, and west. Though real-world obstacles make a perfect geometric path impossible. This imperfect journey reflects the unpredictability of life itself, embracing unexpected encounters and hidden corners. Each walk captures overlooked details such as discarded objects, fading signage, and graffiti, transforming these unnoticed elements into the foundation of my art. Ultimately, Borders invites us to reconsider our experience of urban spaces, encouraging a deeper connection with the unseen aspects of the city.
Once back in the studio, I work directly with the images and video captured to distill and interpret the experience. Cities are constantly changing, and what a particular space means to one resident might not hold the same meaning for another. The truth of a city glimpsed from above or from a moving car is very different from the experience of walking its streets. The studio process involves multiple layers to translate these nuanced impressions, contrasting my experience with what my camera captured (I often shoot from the waist to avoid cropping out elements of the experience). Ultimately, these captured truths are transformed into physical works on canvas and wood, rendering the essence of these explorations into the finished works.
See the full project here: Borders
