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. I use soil chromatography to illuminate the vitality of the world around us. Each color and striation signifies a separate compound or bacteria present in the tea, fruit, or plant I used to make the chromatograms (one-of-a-kind prints made using chromatography). 

This listing is for a giclee print (aka a digitally printed copy) of a chromatogram I made for my body of work titled The Land Loves Us. You will receive a 10" x 10" unframed reproduction print. Note that while I have uploaded photos that match the prints' 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.

Pear from my cousin's garden

In 2023, my cousin Sik Fi gave me pears he grew in his garden in Chicago's Chinatown. This was one of the first prints I made with fruit, and one of my favorite prints from The Land Loves Us collection. To make chromatograms, I fold xuan paper into different shapes. Unfolding this print in September, as winter beckoned, felt like I was unwrapping a precious gift. Like I had captured the spirit of the summer sun that nurtured my cousin's pear tree. This print features golden yellows with hints of pink.

The original chromatogram featured in my exhibition, 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. Learn more about the exhibition here.

Free postcard!

Every purchase of a physical item receives a free postcard. One per order. The current postcards include a picture of one of my favorite chromatograms, Chinese Chive Roots and Stems, that I grew in my community garden plot in Chicago.

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.