The counter culture of the 1960s opposed consumerism because of its calamitous effects on the earth's resources.

Hippies regarded metal and mechanisation as harsh, inorganic and inhuman, placing emphasis instead on access to green space, communal living, healthy eating, respect for the planet and consuming less.

This artwork refers to the hippies' prescient warnings that the earth was / is close to collapse through over exploitation.

'The Earth's Crust' is part of socialart.work, a mass public art project by public artist

Martin Firrell

calling for greater social justice.

It aims to create debate about power and gender, women's equality and masculinity, alternative forms of economic and social organisation, black power, and solidarity between people from different backgrounds and ethnicities.

It includes posters, publications and events supported in 2018-19 by the artist's residency with leading Out of Home media company

Clear Channel UK.