24 FEB 2024

What is “Borders”?

Cities are more than just their centers. While the heart of a city often attracts attention, it’s at the edges-where urban life meets the unknown-that we begin to uncover how space truly shapes our experiences. Borders is a project that investigates these man-made buildings and boundaries-motorways, road signs, markings, and grid references-that subtly guide our movements and perceptions. These borders don’t just shape how we navigate a city physically; they also influence our emotional and psychological connection to the environment around us.

Borders here 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.