Life in the upside down
Z26 – SOIL at Somerset House
Beneath our feet lies a hidden universe that’s essential to life.
This month, our team explored SOIL at Somerset House, an exhibition bringing together artists, scientists, and thinkers to reveal the crucial role and remarkable potential of soil.
One of the works that strongly resonated with us was As Above So Below, an interactive installation by Semantica and Juan Cortés that transforms the unseen world of soil into a dynamic, data-driven experience.
Using computational biology and agent-based modeling (computer simulations used to study the interactions between people, things, places, and time), the installation simulates the metabolic and planetary processes of the soil microbiome.
Then here’s where it gets really fascinating—the simulation is directly influenced by live financial market data from the agricultural industry. As market demand rises, microbial movements become chaotic and growth slows, illustrating how economic forces disrupt the delicate balance of soil ecosystems.
The installation also features a custom-built synthesiser that translates biodata and subterranean field recordings into an evolving soundscape, immersing visitors in the rhythms of the cosmos underneath.
Another experience that made a lasting impression on us was Poetics of Soil: Fly Agaric by Marshmallow Laser Feast, featuring words and voice by Merlin Sheldrake. This mesmerising installation takes visitors on a journey through the vast, intricate networks connected to a humble mushroom on the forest floor, unveiling the hidden rhythms of the earth’s soil.
These projects are powerful examples of how data and design can make the invisible visible, revealing the fragile interconnections that sustain life, shaped by both natural and human-made systems.
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