I am WHO?
WHO are WE?
- SOIL
Earth Sculptures
Sao Paulo, C.A.C.
November 2020
Material: Soil, Cement, Hair
Technic: Rammed Earth
The project is a development of questions towards where we come from and who we are. It started with the hypothetical thought that the soil underneath our feet is shaping our societies. The thought developed as I was experiencing that cultures, rituals and mentalities change throughout geographic locations on Earth, as so does the characteristics of the soil. This made me realise the close connection soil must have to us.
How does soil affect us? Recently there has been great interest in soil microbes for their ability to influence our feelings and behavior. For example, the microbe Mycobacterium vaccae is studied for its impact on our serotonin levels. As soil contains an incredibly rich diversity of microorganisms, one can imagine how societies are influenced by the different ground they are standing on. But this relationship goes both ways, the soil is also influenced by society. We leave traces of our life into the soil, such as; hair, debris, or cigarette butts, which in turn, transforms the soil too. So our actions are directly feeding back to us.
Being in the mega city of São Paulo the soil’s presence is rare and what is left, is underneath asphalt. But wherever there is a construction zone, it comes up to the surface. With every road work we get reminded that underneath a thin layer of asphalt there is a big layer of the country’s most fertile soil. A soil with the noble name “terra roxa” due to its unique pink colour.
The sculpture is made out of this famous soil, it combines earth from remote mountains in the area of Campos do Jordão, as well as the soil dug out from city construction work