News

Action: Soil Portraits (video)

5ᵗʰ biennale svizzera del territorio:
back to the future
October 4 - November 30, 2024
Opening October 4 - 5, 2024

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The project Soil Portraits is an attempt to bring the invisible processes of soils to a broader public using the method of soil chromatography. Soil chromatography creates a unique image of a soil. For that, soil samples are taken, dried, ground and mixed with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as an extracting agent. After resting for several hours, the soil sample is passed through a round filter paper that has previously been impregnated with silver nitrate (AgNO3). The reaction between the components of the soil sample and the developing substance produces a pattern with distinct colors, shapes and structures. The overall picture of the soil changes depending on the presence of organic matter, bioavailable nutrients and enzyme activity in the sample. It is like a portrait of a soil, with each soil chroma being different.

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