Esther Kokmeijer

Journey to the centre of gravity of each continent (2003 - 2005)
The desire to shed more light on the world led to the idea of travelling to the exact centre of all the continents. The geographical centre is a factual and calculable spot. It is the navel, the core, the very heart of a continent.

For this project geographer Professor Jean-Georges Affholder of the IGN (Institut Géographique National) in Paris determined the geographical centre of each continent by calculating the centre of gravity. I succeeded in physically visiting all these geographical centres precisely, to the metre.

Every geographical centre has a story of its own. By making this journey, I wanted to make the geographical centre of each continent important. I marked every geographical centre. They are temporary markings; they are perishable and will be incorporated into nature within a few days or weeks. I do not want to interfere with the nature of that place, do not want to claim that place, just to name it. To give it a story and soul.

I traveled with Gijs Beekenkamp (www.945-ontwerp.nl)
In 455 days We covered 120,000 kilometres (74,000 miles) and visited 46 countries.