The curiosity cabinet, or ‘Kunstkammer’/’Wunderkammer’, was a specialised room popular in Europe from the mid-16th to mid-18th centuries. These spaces, found in courts and learning centers, showcased a blend of scientific discoveries, philosophical insights, and artistic works, reflecting the wonder and intellectual curiosity of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Inspired by these historical cabinets and my childhood memories of glass display cabinets and printers’ trays filled with trinkets and miniature porcelain ornaments in the 1980s, a modern interpretation of this concept was evoked.

My exhibition reinterprets the curiosity cabinet by focusing on the implicit and ethereal aspects of experience, combining foraged natural items with elements reminiscent of an apothecary or alchemical cabinet. This approach reflects the alchemical transformation of both materials and the psyche, aligning with the interdisciplinary nature of my research and a love for storytelling. A series of works about the senses suggests a literary influence, and the use of a printers’ tray in the framing further reinforces this concept. Additionally, the view visible through a window in the background can be integrated into the narrative.

The work emphasises process over product and, with a holistic approach, explores findings from neuroscience in the fields of Sensory Integration Theory, Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction, Polyvagal Theory and Somatic Therapies. More specifically, focusing on how these theories, when combined with sensorimotor art-making,  influence our well-being.

Here, the concept of the ‘cabinet of curiosities’ also echoes the importance of curiosity in improving mental health and self-awareness, offering non-judgmental, loving attention to our internal states.

With this exhibition, my practice addresses two invisible crises in post-modern society that are currently subjects of critical debate. These seemingly unrelated issues have beautifully merged through interdisciplinary research and an intimate material investigation. The first concerns the global mental health crisis, including trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. The second crisis involves human-soil relations, with soil being one of Earth’s major life systems under threat.

The metaphorical connection between soul and soil lies in their shared symbolism of growth, nourishment, and interconnection. Just as soil provides a vital foundation of life and death for plants, small animals, insects, and soil microbiome to thrive, the soul, when nurtured, maintained, and repaired, fosters personal growth and spiritual development. Both the soul and soil require care, attention, and cultivation to flourish and contribute meaningfully to the greater ecosystem of our existence.

Central to the work is an emphasis on sensorimotor methods of making and the processing of natural materials such as earth pigments, lake pigments, botanical inks, and wild clay. This interplay between soil and soul forges a strong link between research, place, Spirit and a sustainable practice. The title – ‘Soul-Soil-Sympoiesis‘ therefore aptly reflects my practice, not only because of its ‘making-with’ nature but also due to its emphasis on ‘collective creation’ and the re-connection of communities in future workshop settings.

The Latin words for ‘soil/earth/humus’ and ‘human’ share the same root, which also gives us the word ‘humble’. The Middle French word ‘humain’ comes from the Latin ‘humanus’. ‘Humanus’ is a blend of the Latin words ‘homo’ (man) and ‘humus’ (soil/earth/ground). Additionally, in the Hebrew Bible, the name ‘Adam’ is derived from the word ‘adamah’, meaning ‘soil’ or ‘earth’ in Hebrew, and when used as a noun, means ‘man’ or ‘humanity’. Revealing another significant connection.

In seeking safety, belonging, and equanimity in the inner landscape of the soul, the work questions whether these intimate and intentional sensory engagements with nature, through making, have the potential to repair lost connections, cultivate stillness, and promote spiritual growth for the reciprocal health of human and non-human worlds.