Soil chromatography is like taking a photo of the compounds and bacteria that make up a substance.

Soil chromatography is often used by farmers to qualitatively assess soil health. I’ve spent the past two years turning this lesser known soil science test into a more expansive artistic technique. Because it is a form of photography made without a camera, each print (also called a chromatogram), is one of a kind. This is an original chromatogram, not a digitally produced copy of the print. I created it on xuan paper that I wet mounted to Chinese mounting paper. Learn more about chromatography here. 

Chinese Chives
I created this chromatogram using fresh Chinese Chives and roots (also known as garlic chives) that I grew in 2023 in my community garden plot in Chicago, USA. I use soil chromatography to illuminate the vitality of the world around us. To make visible the love the land gifts us through food. This print gives us a glimpse at the unseen world hidden inside chives, with each color and striation signifying a separate compound or bacteria in the chives and their roots. This print was featured in my solo museum show, Mari Miller: The Land Loves Us, at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago in early 2024. It also featured in the promo materials I designed for the show as the cover of the exhibition pamphlet.

Hanging
It measures 15.75" x 18" and comes with a built-in-tab so you can hang it on the wall without a frame. Simply push the three included thumb tacks through the tab. The tab is thin enough that you may also frame it. 

Note that while I have uploaded photos that match the print's colors as closely as I can, colors may vary among different computer monitors. What appears on your monitor may not reflect the exact shades of color in the print. This chromatogram is made up of warm browns that are tip a little more towards the red end of the spectrum than the blue.

Giving Back
My work with chromatography is intrinsically related to the land, and some of my chromatograms are made using food and plants grown on stolen land. Indigenous communities are the land's strongest defenders, so 10% of each chromatogram sale gets donated to Indigenous communities. Check out my blog and Instagram (links in profile) for updates on chromatogram donations.