Jord/Luft (earth/air): Vibrant Soils
exhibition, Jordens Hus, 2023
A collaborative project by Artist Sarah Trahan, Design researcher Louise Permiin, and Soil biologist and Senior Researcher Emeritus Paul Henning Krogh.
Vibrant Soils was shown alongside the work of Sophie Dupont as a part of the show Jord/Luft at Jordens Hus in Albertslund, DK.
Vibrant Soils – Why care for soil health? is an ongoing art and research project that creates hands-on tools and experiences to help people understand how earthworms and healthy soil work together. We blend biology, sound recording, and collaborative design to build connections between humans and earthworms, shining light on the important but hidden processes happening in the ground beneath us.
For this project, we chose the grounds of Vridsløselille Fængsel as our research site. During our fieldwork there, we studied the local soil and captured unique sound recordings from different spots around the former prison. These recordings became the foundation for developing a set of experimental methods and artistic pieces designed to help people connect with soil and the creatures living in it through their senses.
We hope that the prototypes and artworks on display in this exhibition can help people better understand soil health and appreciate the lives of earthworms.
As an additional part of the Vibrant Soils exhibition, we offered soil listening and clay 3D-printing workshops with artists Robert Cole Rizzi and Anna Andersen that invited participants to explore their own sensory interaction with soil and with the grounds of Vridsløselille Fængsel.
This project was supported by Jordens Hus and Albertslund Kulturfond.
+ Jord/Luft press release
Vibrant Soils – Why care for soil health? is an ongoing art and research project that creates hands-on tools and experiences to help people understand how earthworms and healthy soil work together. We blend biology, sound recording, and collaborative design to build connections between humans and earthworms, shining light on the important but hidden processes happening in the ground beneath us.
For this project, we chose the grounds of Vridsløselille Fængsel as our research site. During our fieldwork there, we studied the local soil and captured unique sound recordings from different spots around the former prison. These recordings became the foundation for developing a set of experimental methods and artistic pieces designed to help people connect with soil and the creatures living in it through their senses.
We hope that the prototypes and artworks on display in this exhibition can help people better understand soil health and appreciate the lives of earthworms.
As an additional part of the Vibrant Soils exhibition, we offered soil listening and clay 3D-printing workshops with artists Robert Cole Rizzi and Anna Andersen that invited participants to explore their own sensory interaction with soil and with the grounds of Vridsløselille Fængsel.
This project was supported by Jordens Hus and Albertslund Kulturfond.
+ Jord/Luft press release
Exhibition view, earthworm terrarium.
Exhbition view; Earthworm Terraria, local topsoil and earthworms, acrylic with wood stands.
Exhibition view; Soil Sounds Room. Installation, speakers playing soil sound recordings and set of Sound Sculptures generated from the recordings.
Soil Sound Sculptures. 3D prints using local clay from Vridsløselille Fængsel and stoneware, various dimensions.
Detail.
Exhibition view; Process Room. Process video on screen.
Exhibition view; Studio Room with design and sculpture protoypes. Bioplastics and clay, various dimensions.
Soil Sample from site 04, Vridsløselille Fængsel.Archival Inkjet Print, 24 x 36 in.
Soil Sample from site 01, Vridsløselille Fængsel.Archival Inkjet Print, 24 x 36 in.
Detail.
Soil Sample from site 02, Vridsløselille Fængsel.Archival Inkjet Print, 24 x 36 in.
Soil Sample from site 06, Vridsløselille Fængsel.Archival Inkjet Print, 24 x 36 in.
Exhibition view; Earthworm Room. Scientific literature and earthworm burrow visualization videos.
Field work: Collecting earthworms for the exhibition habitats.
Field work: Collecting soil samples from the grounds of Vridsløselille Fængsel.
Field work: Extracting clay from soil samples.
Field work: Printing sculptures with local clay.
Clay 3D print test with local clay.
Clay 3D print tests with local clay, after bisque firing.
Research & process video, 2023.