The first major show at Somerset House this year (marking the start of its 25th anniversary as a cultural hub) is a tricky one to categorise. Curated by the Land Gardeners, an inspiring pair of English gardeners passionate about the regenerative power of soil and organic planting, it is as much science/natural history as it is art.
The exhibition starts below ground, with an invitation, instead of looking up, to look down. "Imagine taking off shoes and socks and allowing your toes to sink into the soil... That isn't the dirt you feel, it is life." Through the dark space into a world of roots and worms, funghi and spores. Photography, video and interactive installations immerse you into a deep, interconnected world. Follow the roots of a long carrot up the stairs and you are met with an Iron Age sword, preserved in the clay-rich Fenland soil for two millennia. Next to it, a series of swatches of shades of burnt sienna, the rich brown pigment loved by artists.
As you walk through the exhibition, you are presented with different artists' responses to the earth. There is no obvious thread which initially is somewhat discombobulating - but in the end, I rather enjoyed it. Make sure you pick up the fun children's guide at the start. Little people's index fingers are stamped with a smiley face and then they push the 'worm' through the holes in a concertina'ed leaflet as they follow the trail through the exhibition. Sensibly, they are only directed to a few pieces. Use it as a starting point - there will be others that will engage; linger with them and skip those that don't.
The last room is a call to action. A World Map of Soil shows innovate ways that people are working round the world to improve soil health. Add your own 'Recipe to Save the World' to the wall. There is a fun video of a Dad with a toddler making nutrient-rich soil from kitchen leftovers. We can all do our bit. Prepare to get your hands dirty when you get home!
There is a well-stocked gift shop with a lovely selection of children's nature books and pretty temporary tattoos of woodland creatures. Make sure you stop to read Laura Mucha's thoughtful poem, You Treat Me Like Dirt, written for the exhibition as part of The Children's Poem Project.
An unusual and inspiring show.
Half Term Workshops run 17–22 February
Seed bombs, drawing, storytelling culminating with a screening with Dr Seuss' The Lorax at 11am on Saturday, 22 Feb
Soil - The World at Our Feet Somerset House 23 Jan–13 April 2025. Tickets: £18.50 ages 12+, £10 ages 6–11, U6s free.
Emily Turner, 30 January 2025
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