Périphérique Run Proposal

A proposal to run the Parisien Boulevard Périphérique.

The Paris ‘orbital’ is one of the most extreme examples of segregation between the ‘affluent’ city and its poorer outskirts. The 35.5km ring road around Paris, consists of visual barrier of sound and concrete material that reinforces the contrast between Paris and its suburbs.

The proposal is a running route map/drawing following this impenetrable boundary, exploring a possible way around the outside of the ring road, tracing its edge as closely as possible. This enlarged plan, together with annotations indicate the route to be taken, along with place-names, territory to be covered and areas of potential difficulty, also highlighted. An electronic fly-over version has also been explored, using Google-Earth Pro.

This map was first exhibited in October 2018, as part of  the exhibition 'The Archive and the Contested Landscape', curated by Cambridge School of Art PhD student Kelcy Davenport. It was later used as the backdrop for a live event and provocation: "Touching the Périphérique" for  RUN! RUN! RUN! Biennale #r3fest 2018, whose subtitle and theme this year was 'In Exile/ Mouvements Dangereux'.

More info and images to follow soon...