Soils Assembly at the More-Than-Planet exhibition

With Soil Assembly initiators: Vivek Vilasini (IN), Neal White (CREAM, Westminster University, UK), Tina O'Connell (IE, tbc), Maya Minder (Hackteria, CH), Ewen Chardronnet (FR).

This symposium will look at the role art and design can play in the food transition and soil literacy. It will introduce the international Soil Assembly network, which will be championing this issue at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos earlier in the week. Organized for the first time in February 2023 at the Kochi Biennale in India, the purpose of a Soil Assembly is to leverage the power of art and design to create a living pedagogy that touches people's hands, hearts and heads; seed a global network of creative collectives and artists, activists, designers, farmers, chefs, scientists and technicians who are critically committed to living soil, biodiversity and landscape conservation; inform about formal and non-formal teaching methods for critical eco-competence, so that new generations can contribute to the collective regeneration of degraded landscapes; present living laboratories, innovative projects and communities working at the interface of agroecology, the arts and citizen science.

Friday, June 21st

14h : Exhibition Introduction to More-Than-Planet exhibition at "We Are AIA | Awareness in Art”

14:45h : Round table 1- Introduction to the Soil Assembly initiative at Luma Schwarzescafé, With Soil Assembly initiators: Vivek Vilasini (IN), Maya Minder (Hackteria, CH), Ewen Chardronnet (FR).

16:00h : Cultivating Connection and Literacy in Soils - the role of science and art with Eric Pinto (Terrabiom) and Laurène Descamps (One Planet Lab)

17:00h :  Round table 2: Introduction to the Laboratory Planet newspaper With Bureau d’études (FR), Ewen Chardronnet (FR), Helen Pritchard (UK/CH, Institute Experimental Design and Media Cultures, Basel FNHW), Federico Luisetti (IT, St Gallen University)

18:00h : Presentation of the Archipelago program supported by Pro Helvetia Synergies program. With Maya Minder (SGMK/Hackteria), Martina Huber (WE ARE AIA), Ewen Chardronnet (ART2M), Roland Fischer (Symbiont). Announcements for Day 2 and future AIA events.

About the workshop: Cultivating Connection and Literacy in Soils - the role of science and art with Eric Pinto (Terrabiom) and Laurène Descamps (One Planet Lab)

Explore the intricate world of soils in our interactive workshop, where art meets science to foster a holistic understanding of this vital resource. Delve into the diversity of soils and their crucial role in our ecosystem through a soil intervention, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and participate in hands-on activities designed to help foster soil litteracy. Join us for an insightful experience that will change the way you think about—and interact with—the ground beneath your feet.

For more information, please go to the WEAREAIA website. 

The "More-Than-Planet: Visions for a Life in a new Geological Epoch?” exhibition and its satellite events aim to contribute to the debate on whether or not to enter the new geological epoch of the Anthropocene, discussed this year by the International Commission on Stratigraphy of the International Union of Geological Sciences. The Anthropocene is characterized by the advent of humans as the main force of change on Earth, surpassing geophysical forces. The geological reference point chosen to support the entry into this possible new era is Crawford Lake, in Ontario, Canada. Key markers for its onset include radionuclides traces from atomic tests, carbon particles from fossil fuels, as well as nitrates and fertilizers – all traces of human activities from the 1950s, detected in sediments at the bottom of the water column of the Lake Crawford. But the Anthropocene does not necessarily start with the so-called “Great Acceleration” that followed World War II. We can root the human impact at a geological level on our planetary system with the significant acceleration enabled by colonization from the 15th Century onwards. A team of artists and researchers comes together for the exhibition, combining artistic and scientific methods to explore the significance of declaring the new geological epoch and to develop collective approaches to addressing the multiple crises characteristic of the Anthropocene. The exhibition presents interdisciplinary research results, art and science field notes, as well as art installations. As an associated program of this exhibition the More-Than-Planet Lab will propose this spring a series of project presentations, workshops, conferences and performances at Awareness in Art & Löwenbräu, Bitwäscherei hackerspace and in other partner venues as well as in the public space. This series is organised with the support of Pro Helvetia’s Synergies program and the European Union’s Creative Europe program. The aim is to deepen our understanding of the planet, raise awareness of pressing issues and foster a sense of collective belonging. The series of events will explore speculative deep-time research, showcase regenerative practices, and introduce situational knowledge from local communities on the following topics (and more): White Geology vs. Black Anthropocenes, Living Soils, and Extraction and Geological Power Claims.