As I was tidying up my home, I came across a bundle of papers I’ve kept for a long time—my own little secrets. This isn’t just a collection of travel scraps; it’s a story about the “fragments of cities” I’ve personally curated from around the world.
In my younger days, I started doing this simply because I wanted to immortalize the emotions of my travels. Maps, tickets, leaflets, and even receipts—I carefully selected pieces with striking text, photography, illustration, and color. Even when my bag grew heavy, I carried them with me, thinking, “One day, I’ll frame these like works of art.”
While some collect magnets or postcards, I have always been drawn to printed matter with exceptional layouts that capture a city’s unique identity. These bundles are far from mere waste; they are preserved specimens of a time and place—the “Visual DNA” of my journey.
1. Private Curation
Items bought from famous souvenir shops can be owned by anyone. However, a business card from a nameless cafe I stumbled upon, or a leaflet picked up from a quiet corner of a museum, is a record of a path only I have walked. Giving meaning to these bits of paper destined for the bin and “lugging” them back home is, in itself, an intense expression of my love for travel.
2. A Path Beyond Google Maps
Of course, Google Maps is a savior today. But my memories are filled with moments of unfolding large paper maps from the station, looking every bit the tourist. Before bed, I would meticulously plan the next day’s route—marking subway exits, nearby restaurants, and anticipated paths. Yet, the unfamiliar streets always offered a different direction than planned. On those “planned maps,” the fleeting moments of a completed journey are vividly recorded where intention met serendipity.
3. The Aesthetics of Ephemera
The moment these bits of paper enter a collector’s hands, they become historical records of the “atmosphere of an era.” London’s heavy typography, Berlin’s raw textures, and Tokyo’s delicate illustrations are the most condensed media reflecting each city’s aesthetic values.
4. Sensory Triggers
While photos record scenery, paper records “materiality.”
- Touch: The thick texture of a catalog or the thin rustle of a receipt.
- Sight: The unique font arrangements and color palettes specific to that city.
- Traces of Time: The faded hues embrace the years that have passed since the trip, summoning memories in three dimensions.
5. The Completion of a ‘Graphic Journey’
Cities like London, Berlin, and Tokyo have distinct design languages. Even a simple shop card embodies the city’s unique layout and color logic. Collecting these is a desire to possess the inspiration felt on-site in a physical form. Years later, simply unfolding them recharges my design sensibilities—an “armchair journey” that begins all over again.
Strangely enough, even without photos or videos, I see myself in a single leaflet or a business card. I truly love that past version of me—the one who couldn’t bear to throw these heavy things away and stubbornly packed them into a suitcase.
If you enjoyed this ‘Private Curation’ of paper, you might also like my story about collecting vintage plates from distant cities.
[Fragments of Travel: My Journey in Teapots and Plates] ➔ ➔