Building Earthbound: Shaping an Ecological Exhibition through Collaboration

The exhibition Earthbound. Worms, Soil, Decay, curated by d-o-t-s (Laura Drouet / Olivier Lacrouts) was conceived through a series of research and production residencies. This process culminated in Building Earthbound: Shaping an Ecological Exhibition through Collaboration, a ten-day workshop held in March 2025. On the occasion of this residency, d-o-t-s, together with graphic designer Aglaë Miguel (France), scenographer Vicent Orts (Spain), and biodynamic gardener and poet Dana Zoutman (the Netherlands), collaboratively designed and produced the exhibition’s scenography, visual identity, magazine, and open-source community compost.

The residency marked a crucial moment in the development of Earthbound, providing a space for experimentation, dialogue, and the exchange of ideas among participants. Structured as an intensive, hands-on, and collaborative process, it focused on exploring how decay, regeneration, and ecological stewardship can be embedded in the making of a temporary exhibition. The scenography and compost were crafted entirely from the old floorboards of the former terrace of the Konschthal, in Esch-sur-Alzette. The wooden planks were carefully sanded and transformed into functional structures – ensuring that the physical elements of the exhibition align with the project’s commitment to environmental responsibility, resourcefulness, and circularity. In this way, the exhibition space itself becomes a living testament to the idea of regeneration, offering visitors not only a visual experience but also a tangible example of how leftover materials can be reimagined and given new life.

Titled The Worm Issue, the project’s magazine was also developed in line with principles of circularity and care. Riso-printed at the Bridderhaus, it serves as an integral extension of the exhibition, offering in-depth insights into its themes while documenting the collaborative process behind it. Blending fiction with scientific fact, the magazine features articles and illustrations, scans of archival materials, as well as a recipe, a poem, and a dedicated children’s section.