Hettie Judah's 'Lapidarium' Explores Art's Geological Turn and Stone's Cultural Significance

In her 2022 publication, 'Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones,' Hettie Judah delves into the human intrigue with minerals and their artistic ties. She connects the amethyst mining in Ametista do Sul, Brazil, to the crystal walls of the São Gabriel church and reflects on prehistoric cave art found in Sulawesi, Indonesia, in 2017. Judah also investigates the role of cinnabar in alchemy from the third century BCE throughout China, Iran, and India. Notable contemporary artwork showcased at Frieze London 2022 includes pieces by Julian Charrière, Daniel Arsham, and Liz Larner. The discussion incorporates theoretical insights from Jane Bennett's 'Vibrant Matter' and Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's 'Stone: An Ecology of the Inhuman,' alongside a fivefold rise in amethyst prices and critiques of extraction methods.