Method & Archive Organization

The image above depicts a draft version of our archive as a fold-out map. Our walk and the 31 interviewed trees are drawn sectionally along the long paper. Relevant archival photos, taken photos, stories told by residents of Sarajevo, article quotations, and video stills. This assemblage is proposed to be reformatted and presented in an atlas format, with the addition of the tree interview text and contextual drawings.

The image below is a diagram of our working method, showing how the different parts of our process come together in a 'Tree Atlas of Sarajevo' (that we're currently working on).

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Trees as Resource

Interview 24: Circle of Blue Spruce "We're standing inside the room made by five variants on coniferous pine trees. These are all young because they are hidden behind a large building. So, you have the triangle [of concealment to the] north of the building, and beyond this triangle's [area] are larger trees. The inside here is barren and the floor is made of pine needles. I wonder if people hang out here. I see a pigeon bone." Within Park Mirze i Davora there is one triangularly shaped area that would have been shielded from sniper view by neighbouring buildings. Today, most of the trees in this park are between 150-200 years old and were likely planted during Austro-Hungarian Times. However, there is one exception to that assessment: the five spruce trees within the triangle of protection. In the place of trees cut for firewood, these five spruce were planted in their stead during the war. See the article excerpt below. The Location: Park Mirze

Trees as Militarized Bodies

Interview 3: Protective Horse Chestnut In Front of Apartment "Large Chestnut tree situated across from the Bosnian Ministry of Finance. It's planted within a private garden, but we wonder why it still stands as the other trees around it are quite young. Jonas could fit his entire arms around this tree. It's quite old and pretty twisted; some spider webs. And, it is close to a building... maybe it was used as protection." Location: Mehmeda Spahe, Sarajevo 71000.

Trees as Militarized Bodies

Interview 29: Four Old, Leaning Poplars "Four poplars, south side of the Miljacka, close to where the front line begins [as] it meets the river. These trees are heavily scarred. They also lean away from the road and hang over the river a bit. Someone wrote "ARM ZDG" on it." Location: Aleja Lipa, Sarajevo 71000.

Trees in Sarajevo

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