For Dutch artist masharu, it all began with a sudden craving to eat dirt.
The Amsterdam-based photographer, academic and artist developed what is known as geophagy — the practice of consuming earthly materials like clay or soil. As masharu explored this urge, a hidden world emerged: Facebook groups with hundreds of members trading edible clays, and Japanese restaurants using soil as an ingredient.
While often linked to cultural traditions or the eating disorder pica, geophagy is far more widespread than commonly believed.
In 2017, masharu founded the Museum of Edible Earth, a nomadic project blending scientific background with activism and art. The museum showcases over 600 edible soils from 44 different countries.
“It includes interactions with soil specialists, sometimes chemical engineers, sometimes anthropologists. But the most important part is definitely people’s experiences of eating earth, which are shared with the public,” masharu told Euronews Culture.
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The project is currently on display at Somerset House in London, coinciding with Earth Day, alongside a series of workshops and talks examining humanity’s relationship with the planet and climate change solutions.
