Scoria 

The influence of cooling on form and structure.
 

Volcanic rocks are formed when magma reaches the Earth's surface as lava and begins to cool. The rate at which this cooling takes place, together with the amount of dissolved gases in the lava, determines the rock's structure, texture, and physical properties. Each volcanic rock therefore preserves a geological record of the conditions under which it was formed.

When lava cools extremely rapidly, there is no time for crystals to develop. The result is a glass-like rock such as obsidian, in which minerals have not been able to organize into a crystalline structure.

Slightly slower cooling produces very small crystals, as seen in basalt, a dense, dark volcanic rock commonly associated with effusive lava flows. If the lava contains large amounts of dissolved gases, these gases escape during eruption, leaving behind numerous cavities as the lava solidifies. This process creates highly porous rocks such as pumice or the darker volcanic rock known as scoria.

The diversity of volcanic rocks demonstrates how physical and chemical processes become visible in matter itself. Cooling rate, pressure, temperature, and chemical composition together determine how minerals crystallize and organize. Volcanic rocks are therefore not only products of geological activity but also tangible records of the dynamic processes that continuously shape the Earth.

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These paintings introduce a broader body of research exploring the relationship between nature, materiality, and analogue photographic processes, focusing specifically on volcanic rocks. The volcanic rocks originate from various regions around the world. They were collected on site, identified according to their location, geological type, and surrounding environment, and subsequently brought together to form an overview of diverse rock types. Initiated in 2026, this project will continue to evolve and expand over the coming years.