d-o-t-s

The Bridderhaus is pleased to announce the launch of Earthbound. Worms, Soil, Decay, a thought-provoking project by the curatorial duo d-o-t-s (Laura Drouet / Olivier Lacrouts), running from June 28th to September 14th, 2025.

The project explores the vital, yet often overlooked, role of soils in sustaining life on Earth, with a focus on earthworms as key agents and ambassadors of soil health. In light of the ongoing ecological crisis, Earthbound encourages a deeper connection to the underground world and its non-human inhabitants, advocating for mindful stewardship. Earthworms – often dismissed due to their slimy appearance – are essential to soil fertility but face numerous threats, including soil artificialisation, shrinking arable land, and intensive agricultural practices like compaction and pesticide use. Pollution from acid rain and industrial activities further endangers these crucial creatures.

Earthbound is envisioned as a multidisciplinary artistic and ecological initiative that highlights the interconnectedness and fundamental role of decay and regeneration in biological cycles. It also serves as a meditation on the impermanence of human existence, reminding us that humans, too, are woven into the rhythms of life, death, and decay. The project will feature an exhibition, a dedicated magazine, a community compost, and a series of artistic residencies, workshops, and public events.

The exhibition will showcase works by Merve Bektaş (Turkey), Grandeza Studio + Locument (Spain/Portugal/Poland), Natalie Taylor (Scotland), and Francisca Álvarez Sánchez (Chile), along with a selection of books and archival materials. It will open with a dynamic weekend event on June 28–29, where visitors can meet the curators and artists, and participate in roundtables and workshops on soil and circularity.

Complementing the exhibition, food designer Céline Pelcé (France) and field recordist Pablo Diserens (France/Switzerland) will each undertake three-week artistic residencies in July and August. During their time at Bridderhaus, the two creatives will develop new, site-specific works that invite active participation, further deepening the exploration of the exhibition’s themes.

About d-o-t-s (Laura Drouet & Olivier Lacrouts)

d-o-t-s is a collaborative practice that merges critical research, curating, writing, and environmental thinking to explore the relationships that human and other-than-human communities establish in the landscapes they cohabit. Defined by the participatory and interdisciplinary approach, d-o-t-s’ work spans exhibition-making, hands-on workshops and design commissions, with a focus on fostering dialogue across diverse fields. Since 2024, d-o-t-s are members of the French association of curators, C-E-A.