January–February. Visual artist Helena Detsch (DE) is currently working on a painted installation titled Entangled. The installation consists of multiple large-scale semi- and non-transparent fabric panels, depicting underground root images painted with self-made oil colors derived from soil and plant pigments.

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The works painted by Helena Detsch during her residency will be featured in a joint exhibition by eight artists opening in Vienna in October 2026, involving visual and sound artists, a musician, and two researchers.

Hanging in space and overlapping in different layered perspectives and angles, the paintings simulate an immersive experience of the hidden world within the ground beneath our feet which our human lives are based on in many different ways.

The title Entangled (Kietoutuneet) emphasizes this profound connection between our lives and the soil. It reflects the essential role of soil as the foundation of life, providing nutrients and supporting ecosystems. In contrast, it also considers the theme of drought, referring to climate change and its impact on plant and soil health which affects human wellbeing, too. The installation invites to reflect on the importance of healthy soil and our entanglement with it, opening a deeper awareness of our environmental responsibilities.

The artwork is inspired by minirhizotrones – scientific instruments to observe and study plant root growth, behaviour and interactions with the soil, mycelium and microorganisms over time. It is part of 03: Soil – a collaboration between artists and scientists which explores interdisciplinary positions on the issue Soil and the Climate Crisis.