There’s Mushroom for Combat
Type: Biofabrication | Biodesign | Sculpture | Research | Collaboration
Media: Mycelium, wood shavings, string
Mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, plays a vital role in our ecosystem. It aids in decomposition and partners with plants to transport nutrients and information. In recent years, scientists and creatives have recognized mycelium’s potential as an eco-friendly replacement to materials such as plastic, styrofoam, and leather.
I had the opportunity to collaborate, study, and learn from mycelium in a Biofabrication class. In this project, I performed experiments to grow mycelium leather (the leather on the boot) and mycelium compound (the soles of the boot).
Why create a boot? The desire to create a boot spawned solely around the idea of lacing puns into it. It is a combat boot since we need to combat, or fight, for a more sustainable future. Collaborating and learning from natural materials like mycelium is just baby steps.
Sorry not sorry if you loath puns…
Collaborating with mycelium and other small organisms in this course not only opened my world to biodesign and synthetic biology, but furthered my respect in the beauty and magic in biology.
Appreciation note: Thank you, Mycelium, for this opportunity. To all the mold and unknown contaminates I had to kill in order to maintain lab safety: I am sorry. Your beauty expanded my curiosities, and I appreciate your eagerness to collaborate too. <3
