London: An unusual artwork made entirely with soil has earned UK-based artist Phil Lambert a place in the record books. The Cardiff-based artist has created the world’s largest soil painting, measuring 61,000 square centimetres, surpassing the previous record of 59,458 square centimetres.
UK-based Official Record Breakers for the organisation Save Soil verified the record. The artwork was created at University College London (UCL) as part of an initiative to highlight the importance of healthy soil and the need to restore degraded land.
Lambert used four different types of soil to create the landscape painting, which features a tree, shrubs and fields. The materials included soil collected from his own garden, his mother’s home and contributions from the James Hutton Institute in Scotland. The canvas and wooden frame, supplied by Oxford Wood Recycling, were also made using upcycled materials.
Having worked with soil as an artistic medium for around a decade, Lambert said the process was familiar to him. He also highlighted how changes in soil quality can be noticed in familiar landscapes, where thinning soil and increasing exposed rock indicate deterioration.
The artwork supports Save Soil’s campaign to make soil regeneration a priority at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31). The movement works with governments to encourage stronger policies for improving soil health worldwide.
Climate scientist and UCL professor Mark Maslin emphasised that healthy soil plays a crucial role in regulating water, storing carbon and supporting biodiversity and food systems.
Through this record-breaking creation, the campaign hopes to bring greater attention to soil conservation and encourage global action towards restoring the planet’s natural resources.
