During a 5-month residency in Bijlmer (Amsterdam), Gijs was inspired by the ‘elephant paths’, ‘paths of desire’ or ‘social paths’ that run in stark contrast through the modernistic pre-planned Bijlmer neighbourhood and its avenues, walkways and cycle lanes. The elephant path refers to the trails that people and/or animals make when they go from point A to point B or by taking an ‘off-road’ detour and so gradually creating a new path. This publication reflects on issues of urban planning, re-wilding the city, and the poetics that can emerge out of this liberation. The zine includes drawings, reflections and a recto-verso fold out imaginary map of the area.
The edition was made completely analogue 1:1 on light sensitive offset plates.
Many thanks to Judith Leysner of the Sandberg institute , Joos Wieringa from the Rietveld Letterset Workshop for the assistance, motivation and patience while making this zine and to Miguel Hervas of the Bookbinding workshop for the support in stapling the zine
Amsterdam - Bijlmer (NL)
February 2022
Gijs Waterschoot