Soil Library 2017 - Ongoing
This body of work will be exhibited at Soil - The World at our Feet, Somerset House Jan-April 2025
‘It has now become almost ritualistic for me to carry small bags and a marker pen whilst visiting new locations with the intention of mindfully collecting a small sample of local soil. It could be from an upturned tree, road works, the edge of farmland. I only ever remove small pieces to minimise disruption.
This process began in 2017 as a soil archive or material library that solely existed for my own reference, but it quickly became evident whilst increasing in size that what was emerging was an evolutionary piece of work.
Where each object reveals a small part of a place in relation to its geological topography.’
Currently comprising of over 160 small pieces this collection of work will continue to grow over time. To date soils have been collected from across Europe, North America, Asia and the UK. Along with a series of notes outlining the location, soil type and quantity, some pieces have been mixed into porcelain and any local clays can exist without a stabilising body.
Ruperra Woodland, South Wales
Soils from Parys Mountain, Copper MIne, Anglesey.