International artists celebrate soils in Deep Roots exhibition

The work of six important international artists is to be exhibited together for the first time in the South West. The exhibition Soil Culture: Deep Roots will feature works by Paolo Barrile, Mel Chin, herman de vries, Richard Long, Ana Mendieta and Claire Pentecost. It will be launched on 18 September and open to the public at Falmouth Art Gallery from 19 September-21 November 2015, and at Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University 16 January- 27 February 2016.

This exhibition is a significant part of the UK contribution to the United Nations International Year of Soils (2015) and a final stage of the three year Soil Culture project initiated by the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) and launched at Falmouth University in 2013.

Healthy soils are essential for the production of food, fibres and timber, they filter our water and protect us from flooding and are a vital part of our global ecosystem. Today, however, soils are increasingly being threatened by poor management and short-termism, resulting in compaction, contamination and a loss of natural fertility. In the South West alone, 38% of its soils have already been significantly degraded.

The unique range of artworks on display includes previously unseen work by Mel Chin, who uses plants to extract heavy metals from contaminated land to that of Claire Pentecost who has refashioned soil into the shapes of gold ingots to reflect its true worth. There will also be works by seven British artists; Chris Drury, Andy Goldsworthy, Sandra Masterson, Daro Montag, David Nash, Peter Ward and Adam White. These will be linked to interactive displays and activities which explore the science behind soils.

The Soil Culture programme has been supported by Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, British Society of Soil Science, the participating galleries and organisations and through sponsorship. Soil Culture: Deep Roots can be seen at Falmouth Art Gallery from 19 September-21 November 2015, and at Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University 16 January- 27 February 2016.

Soil Culture Programme:
Soil Culture is a three year long programme led by the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) which uses the arts to inspire a deeper understanding of the importance of our soils - a resource on which the whole of civilization depends but many take for granted.

The research phase of the Soil Culture programme began at Falmouth University and this culminated in a Forum last July which brought together over 90 artists, writers and environmentalists. Thanks to a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Since then, CCANW has supported 12 Soil Culture artist residencies with different hosts across the South West and at Kew, and a commission in Bristol. Nine of these residencies were advertised, attracting 655 applications from 39 different countries, a strong indication of the increasing number of artists becoming engaged with environmental issues globally.
Over the Summer, an exhibition 'Soil Culture: Young Shoots' based on the residencies has been shown in Bristol as part of the City's year as European Green Capital 2015. It will go on tour to the Eden Project, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and also be exhibited in Newton Abbot, Honiton and Barnstaple until next June, accompanied by activities which explore the natural and cultural heritage of our soils. Supported by public funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund.