SOIL: The World at Our Feet
Public Programme
Somerset House, South Wing
23 January - 13 April 2025
We are proud to be supporting the Public Programme for the SOIL: World at Our Feed exhibition at Somerset House.
The SOIL Public Programme is an expansive series of events and activities uncovering all the different properties, meanings, and possibilities that soil holds. The programme has three key moments, along with standalone events that will feature an array of contributors across the arts, environmentalism, agriculture, policy and many more.
Soil isn’t just dirt—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem as diverse as the stars above. This groundbreaking exhibition and public programme dive deep into the hidden power of soil, bringing together visionary artists, writers, thinkers, practitioners, musicians, and scientists from around the globe, exploring soil’s vital role in shaping civilisation and its potential to heal the Earth.
Intuitions for Soil
Thursday 30 January 6-8pm
A panel discussion with artist Lauren Gault, regenerative grower Poppy Okotcha and writer Jennifer Kabat, who will be digging into the personal philosophies that guide and nurture our relationships with soil, emphasizing the importance of active listening and care in fostering a deeper connection to the earth.
Soil will be considered as a living metaphor for time, transformation, and connection, holding the past and future in constant interplay, cycling death into life, legacy into renewal. Unlike linear Western time, soil embodies poly-temporality, resonating with Indigenous heritages that honour the rhythms of land and seed. The speakers also bring unique insights into how soil archives history and shapes possibility through their own lineage and environment.
Soil x Spring: An Evening in Celebration of Soil and Taste
Monday 3 February 7pm
A communal dining event showcasing the difference that healthy soil makes to how our food tastes with a menu specially created by Skye Gyngell, reflecting Spring’s thoughtful approach to food. An introduction to the themes of the exhibition will be given by co-curators Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy of The Land Gardeners.
Weathered Radio with Angela YT Chan
Saturday 8 February 2–4pm
A collective soundscape making/listening workshop with Angela YT Chan, exploring the depths and breadths of soil, its history, and its endless possibilities. Angela is an independent researcher, data engineer and artist specialising in climate change. Her work explores power, narrative framings and technology in the colonial and ongoing history of the climate crisis. She works with a variety of media and processes, such as video, illustration, writing, narrative games, workshops, sound and creative coding.
Half-Term at Soil
17-13 February
Events and activities for children and families every day starting from 11am, including: Seed Bomb Drop-in; Gardening Drawing Club and a listening workshop with Conscious Landscape.
The Living Soils Workshop
Saturday 1 March 11am & 3pm
Presented in collaboration with Gaia Art Foundation, the living soils workshop is a learning game, based on collective intelligence which aims to spread a common language on the functioning of soils and the issues linked to their preservation.
Soil Protagonista
Thursday 13 March 6-8pm
An evening of film screenings and discussion between filmmakers. Within each of the films, soil emerges as a captivating protagonist, revealing its metaphorical vastness as an omnipresent vessel.
Sketching with Soil with Lucy Mayes
Saturday 22 March 2-4pm
Presented in collaboration with Gaia Art Foundation, an immersive workshop with artist and pigment maker Lucy Mayes, exploring the connection between soil ecology and art. Learn how to craft handmade drawing materials, including soft pastels, using earth pigments and sustainable binders.
In this session, you'll gain hands-on experience in making pastels and leave with your own set of earth-derived drawing tools, deepening your appreciation for the artistic and ecological potential of soil.
(Un)Earthing Soil – A Day of Exploration
Friday 4 April 10am-6pm
Presented in collaboration with Gaia Art Foundation, this symposium explores how we can learn from the diverse rhizomatic nature of soil to rethink and reconnect with the land, others and ourselves. Across the world, stories of humankind’s creation were born from soil. It is the giver of life, an abundant universe within a universe full of possibilities.
The day will be centred around the following sessions:
1) Tending to the Earth’s cycles – an exploration into Gaia Theory, eco-burials and regenerative farming and how they work with natural cycles.
2) Nurturing Urban Soils – focussing on London’s soil and its caretakers ranging from community gardening, urban green policy and guerilla activism.
3) Extending our thinking on food systems – looking at microbes, regenerative farming, artistic interventions and zero-waste initiatives.
4) Building blocks – looking at the material potential of soil across the fashion, architecture and construction industries.
Designer and artist, Ling Tan, will present a performative lecture on her work Low Carbon Chinatown (2021 – present) and Taking Root (2022).
Spring Fair
Saturday 5 April 2-8pm
A communing event platforming the real-world initiatives that deal head on with climate change. Inspired by a village fair, this event aims to draw on Spring’s symbolism to leave audiences feeling renewed and refreshed in their hope for the future of soil. The day will also feature artist talks, screenings and performance.
There will be stalls from Somerset House’s Creative Community including Biofonic, Notgroundbreaking, Wildsmith Skin, Volans, Materra, Julie’s Bicycle, Katya Bryskina, Hubbub, as well external contributors such as Jamie’s Farm, Freddie Yauner.