ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Artists Ilana Halperin and Louise Bennetts, writer and performer Karine Polwart, and soil scientist Colin Campbell (Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute) discuss Hutton’s legacy in the context of contemporary creative practice. The conversation is chaired by Susanna Beaumont, curator of Earth Matters.
This event was programmed as part of Earth Day to celebrate two concurrent exhibitions that explore our place in geological time – Ilana Halperin: What Is Us and What Is Earth (Fruitmarket) and Earth Matters (Inverleith House Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) – in the context of the tercentenary of Scottish geologist James Hutton (1726-1797).
Ilana Halperin: What Is Us and What Is Earth
An exhibition of sculpture, drawing and photography from Glasgow based artist Ilana Halperin, whose art seeks to make geological time human; to map the incomprehensible vastness of geological time and the natural world through the knowable familiarity of human experience.
Earth Matters (20.03.26–01.11.26. Inverleith House Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)
Marking the tercentenary of James Hutton’s birth, Earth Matters celebrates the life of the ground-breaking Edinburgh born geologist and farmer. Exploring his writings on soil, Earth Matters is inspired by Hutton and other subsequent trailblazers who have helped challenge and change our understanding of soil. Through art and craft, dating from the 18th century to the present-day, work by over thirty artists and makers illuminates the vital beauty and brilliance of the earth beneath our feet.
Funded jointly with the Edinburgh Geological Society and Design Exhibition Scotland.
Photos and video of What is Us and What is Earth are available on our online archive.
Fruitmarket produced a book to accompany the show. Writing by Paul Bonaventura, Catriona McAra with Claire Cousins, and Stephanie Straine sheds new light on Halperin's work and career, while a sequence of letters between Ilana Halperin and friends geographer Adam Bobbette and writer Candice Chung offer personal insight into the thought processes behind this intensely beguiling body of work.
The book can be ordered from our online shop, where you can also buy a limited edition lithograph print made especially by Ilana.
A free, public space for culture in the heart of Edinburgh, Fruitmarket provides inspiration and opportunity for artists and audiences. We programme, develop and present world-class exhibitions, commissions, publications, performances, events and engagement activities, opening up the artistic process.
To find out more about our current exhibition programme and upcoming events visit fruitmarket.co.uk where you can sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Bluesky, Instagram or TikTok.
