A few hours before the closing of the borders between France and Germany, I still had the chance to see, visit and make a small retrospective of my drawings in the Botanical Garden of the University of Leipzig.
This last day in Germany was dedicated to visit the Botanical Garden of the University of Leipzig. It is the oldest botanical garden in Germany and one of the oldest in the world, dating back at least to 1542. The garden is home to about 7,000 species, 3,000 of which are scattered in about ten collections. The garden includes departments from Eastern Europe and Asia, Northern Hemisphere forests, meadows, Eastern North America, as well as wetland plants with regional flora.
The climate was becoming more and more uncertain concerning Covid19 and there had been talk for a few hours now, unfortunately, about the closing of the borders between European countries. The closure of public spaces, museums, and the cancellation of the links between France and Germany made me decide to put this project of discovering European primary forests and neo-formed landscapes on hold.
No one knows how long this health crisis will last, but I am excited about the idea of reopening Europe’s internal and external borders! The project can then be continued to the north of Germany and to the Baltic Sea!
I also had the chance to meet people throughout this first part of the journey who presented their vision of Germany and Europe to me. They introduced me to their towns and forests, but above all they offered me a warm and welcoming environment at every stage of the journey. THANK YOU !
I am now back in Mulhouse with my pencils and my notebooks, where I continue to document the forests…
Until the borders reopen, let’s stay healthy and live intensely !
