_{Dr Tim Cockerill – A Diversity of Forms. Image courtesy of the artist}

Just opened at Somerset House, SOIL: The World at Our Feet is a landmark exhibition unearthing the wonder of soil, its unbreakable bond to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet’s future.

Bringing together thinkers, filmmakers, global and local artists, scientists and activists, SOIL is presented across three main sections: Life Below Ground, Life Above Ground and Hope. Topics around climate change, waste, land, justice, coupled with beauty and wonder, are all woven into the presented works and installations.

_{This Earth 6, Soil, microbes, film © Daro Montag}

Participating artists and creative practitioners include: Agnieszka Kurant, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Anya Gallaccio, Ana Mendieta, Annalee Davis, Asad Raza, Asunción Molinos Gordo, Clare Richardson, Daro Montag, Diana Scherer, Eve Tagny, Fatima Alaiwat, Fernando Laposse, France Bourély, Freddie Yauner, Harun Morrison & Paul Granjon, herman de vries, Howard Sooley, jackie sumell, Jim Richardson, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Jo Pearl, Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck, Julia Norton, Ken Griffiths, Kim Norton, Lauren Gault, Maeve Brennan, Marguerite Humeau, Mariana Heilmann, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Michael Landy, Merlin Sheldrake, Michael Prime, Mike Perry, Miranda Whall, Sam Williams, Semantica (Jemma Foster and Camilla French) with Juan Cortés, Something & Son, Theo Panagopoulos, Tim Cockerill and Elze Hesse, Vivien Sansour, Wim van Egmond.

_{Top: Unearthed – Mycelium and bottom: Oddkin 2. Both by Jo Pearl; both © Elsa Pearl}

SOIL is co-curated by The Land Gardeners, Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy; curator and writer May Rosenthal Sloan and Claire Catterall, Senior Curator at Somerset House.

Find out more about the exhibition here. An accompanying digital programme, featuring a short documentary film and three-part podcast tracing the life cycle of soil, can be found here.

Somerset House have also programmed a series of events to sit alongside the exhibition. Find out more here.

_{Jute Mallow Processing by Palestine Heirloom Seed Library (artist Vivien Sansour)}

_{With Horses, 2023, film still © Maeve Brennan}