Juliette Ezavin investigates soil as a site of transformation. She explores the interconnections between living and non-living systems through theatrical, often immersive compositions.
‘I have an obsession for what happens under our feet, what we too often see as dirt. But this discarded layer is actually the gold of our civilization, and we depend 100% on it, with food and oxygen being the most obvious examples….’
Soil life
‘In the soil, life is thousands of times more active than above ground. Constant exchange, mutualisation, decay, growth—bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and animals continuously eat, reproduce, and die. In my work worms gently dance, kiss, and court under the gaze of the human eye—whether curious or wandering—inviting a deeper empathy for the non-human world on which we are entirely dependent. ‘
Scientific frameworks, embodied knowledge
Juliette draws on scientific frameworks, embodied knowledge, and Eastern philosophies to question how we perceive and narrate the natural world.
‘After studying soil biology, I began developing a body of work where the micro-fauna of the soil became central characters in theatrical scenes, playful games, and skewed scientific tables, challenging the limitations of our anthropocentric understanding of the ecosystem. Central to my work is the desire to decentralise the “I/eye” and propose storytelling systems that reflect ecological entanglement and contemporary modes of being.’
Bring hope to the future
Juliette Ezavin believes that it is important to weave a network of people that think about urgent climatic questions. ‘I believe that together we can create to scale it down in our local community, create movement and bring hope for the future.’
Ceramics, found objects, drawing, moving image
Juliette Ezavin (aka Ezaoui) is a French-born visual artist based in London since 2014. She works across ceramics, found objects, drawing, and moving image. Her background spans an MA in Interior Architecture (Paris, 2014), the Turps Painting Programme (London, 2019–21). Juliete also has a degree in Organic Horticulture from OrganicLea (2022). She is a permanent studio holder at Studio Voltaire.
