CIISA- Soil The World At Our Feet – Somerset house Exhibition

The soil exhibition at Somerset house was truly eye opening. My curiosity to soil began before I entered the exhibition and after experiencing it I was sure that what I was doing was a incredibly neccesairy element to my practice. The exhibition showed me that art really is an unrecognised way of scientifically discovering the world. Without all of these artist who exhibited I would in no way have been able to fully understand or digest how integral soil is to our survival.

The artist not only explored the physical dirt of the soil itself but every component that in complexly involved in the making of soil. I love how each artist approaches soil in such a nuanced and multifaceted way. They really encapsulated every element that comprises of soil itself.

I was surprised that the sound elements of the exhibition weren’t as strong as I thought they would be. Many artist explored soil quality but in a very physical way. I was almost thankful for this as it has given me room to explore the sound of soil for myself. Sometime I find with art that you get an idea and that idea is something you are so passionate about, then you come across and artist or a writer who perfectly defines and answers every question that you were so curious to explore. I think that sometimes it undermines your creativity because if you hadn’t had stumbled upon them you could have forged your own way through those thoughts and come to a completely different conclusion, but upon reflection I always believe that the more knowledge and information the better.

I found this work by Herman De Vries very stimulating. I think that we as a society think of soil so linearly, jut this brown thing that’s dirty and un aesthetically pleasing. Vries show you a small but varied amount of palates soil had to offer, for me changing the way I see soil from and aesthetic point of view.

This work by Fatima Alaiwat was by far my favourite. They incorporated smell, which was the only work that used this in the whole exhibition. Their work was situated in this poly tunnel walkway, complete unexpecting as you walked in. It was a small that I have smelt before, like really amazing sage. I had to go back to this work a few times because the small was so enticing.