Passion for Travel

Travel has been a major source of inspiration for Gilles Clément. It has allowed him to gain an in-depth knowledge of plant species and the biological processes that govern them, greatly contributing to the design of his projects and to the writing of many of his publications.

Moreover, travel is an integral part of his lifestyle, enabling him to apply the knowledge acquired through his experiences to his professional life. But above all, travel has left a personal mark on him. During his journeys, he seeks to meet people to share imaginations and ways of understanding the world, which leads him to question his own fundamentals.

The large number of professional commitments he faces requires him to travel frequently, sometimes over short distances, sometimes to the other side of the world. These are usually trips with specific objectives and short stays. He does not consider himself a wanderer. “It is no longer travel but displacement; simple transport as if we were merchandise,” he often says.

In response to his current way of life, Clément has always defended a model of travel in direct contact with the place and its inhabitants—without anything pre-planned. Everything is connected to adventure and surprise. Using local modes of transport, designing his own routes while avoiding the most touristy places, the need to discover the landscapes as well as the cultures that have shaped them over time, the effort to try to express himself in the local language to better communicate with residents… All of this aims to immerse himself as fully as possible in the realities of the places he visits.

Travels undertaken since 1950. World map drawn by the author. 2013.