Entanglements of Earth
Entanglements of Earth celebrates the complex symbiotic relationships between microbes and their bio-geo-chemical processes within the soils and sediments across earth. The exhibition features sculptures made of ceramics, glass, raw clay and natural materials, created collaboratively between visual artist Linda Seiffert and microbial ecologist Dr. Gregory Crocetti.
The work seeks to challenge the lines drawn between nature and culture, living and nonliving, the sacred and mundane - inviting us to reconsider our place within the natural world and our relationship with the more-than-human.
Central to the space is a reimagining of the mythical Greek Hydra as a living sculpture of mud, clay and glass. Her many heads contain self-sustaining microbial ecosystems, emulating those developed by 19th century scientist Sergei Winogradsky.
An ancient creature at home in the swamp, the Hydra reflects our unease with nature’s deeper cycles - decomposition, death, and the forces we cannot control. Her multiplicity evokes the intricate interconnectedness of ecosystems, where all life is entangled. Her ability to regenerate becomes a powerful ecological metaphor: a symbol of nature’s capacity for adaptation, resilience, and renewal through disturbance. The Hydra is not a threat to overcome but a guide to learn from, reminding us that what decays also nourishes, and what is monstrous may also sustain.
Images by Silversalt Photography
