SOIL ART TALES @ THE SERRALVES ART FOUNDATION FEB 11 – APRIL 26 2026
Dirty Secret is my latest body of work about the awe-inspiring life hidden in the earth beneath our feet. It compares degraded soil with healthy soil teaming with life. The damage caused by conventional farming on soil versus the positive impact of regenerative farming on soil health. Dirty Secret includes a clay animated short – a sort of bug and bacteria ballet, accompanied by a series of ceramic microorganisms, and a sculptural frieze. At the end of the shoot, the ‘stars’ of the film were kiln-fired, to capture them in suspended animation. These are displayed as specimens in entomology boxes. This body of work continues my attempts to stretch at the edges of clay and ceramics, using clay to shine a light on the hidden world beneath our feet, with delight and wonder as guiding principles.
Dirty Secret was commissioned for Soil Art Tales, an EU-funded touring exhibition that begins at the Serralves Art Foundation in Porto, and then travels to 6 other museums and institutions during 2026-2027.
Sefano Cagol, curator of SOIL ART TALES states:
By translating scientific knowledge into sensorial narratives and shared experiences, the exhibition opens pathways for awareness and responsibility. The voices of soil—its textures, subtle rhythms, and silent resilience—become bridges between cultures, reminding us that we are custodians of a fragile and irreplaceable heritage.
Soil Art Tales also showcases work from three other internationally recognised artists Binta Diaw (IT/SN), Nikki Lindt (NL/US), and Miguel Teodoro (PT)
Developed within the framework of the Horizon Europe–funded project SoilTribes – Glocal Ecosystems Restoring Soil Values, Roles and Connectivity, the exhibition is presented at Serralves as part of the European project SoilScape and after in seven European institutions, including Villa Altieri – Città Metropolitana di Roma, Posavski Muzej Brežice in Slovenia, the National Gallery of Bulgaria in Sofia, Milanowskie Centrum Kultury in Poland, and Castel Belasi – Contemporary Art Center for Eco Thought in the Alps.
The exhibition is organised by the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU+NET), curated by Stefano Cagol and coordination by Marta Tavares (Serralves Foundation)
Jo Pearl Sculpture 