Ailanthus Altissima - Simon Boudvin

Useless, free, large, generous. These are the traits of the ailanthus (樗 – Ailanthus altissima) that Zhuangzi evoked to illustrate his Tao philosophy. Today, these same characteristics are reproached to specimens of this species that evolves in the temperate regions of all continents. Simon Boudvin followed the development of a population of ailanthus for ten years in an area of ​​eastern Paris, between the communes of Bagnolet and Montreuil. Here he shares an excerpt from his photographic survey, supplemented by the story of the history, travels, integration and rejection of the ailanthus in our sciences and cultures. This situated monograph questions our capacity to welcome the appearance of a spontaneous form of life and to relax our exclusive control over the space of our cities.