Simon BoudvinAilanthus altissima, Une monographie située de l'ailante

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