The focal point is a large, abstract wooden structure, an inclined platform whose surface is filled with holes offering glimpses of the soil below: an invitation to take a wider perspective and look not only at things above the surface – trees, humans, various objects – but also down into the earth, where roots and mycelia flourish. An evocative soundscape created by experimental musician Joanna Halszka Sokołowska welcomes visitors to the installation. Hypnotic infographics and pictograms focus our attention towards reflections on the material of wood, which Poland is among the top world exporters of, and which the installation considers from three different perspectives: humans, trees, and fungi.
For a human, a tree is a source of timber – meaning simple raw material to be transformed into objects to use and consume, and to treat with chemicals to ensure it never decays. For trees, wood is the vital flesh of their own bodies, through which sap and nutrients flow. For fungi, wood is a source of nourishment but also a partner in creating a collaborative symbiotic relationship.
These almost invisible organisms, indicators and messengers of a new paradigm of sustainability, are the true stars of this project. Mycorrhizal fungi enter into a symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants and trees, improving their ability to draw nutrients from the soil and to grow strong and healthy. At the end of the plant’s life cycle other fungi, called Saprophytes, feed on and decompose the dead organic matter – returning fertility to the soil and creating optimal environmental conditions for the next generation of plants and fungi. Thanks to these fungi, the circle of life is completed. And these fungi show us a perfect, finely-tuned model for interspecies collaboration. Are we ready to change our self-centered approach to life and think about the common good? Are we prepared to relinquish total control over our materials and objects, and join in the cycle of biodegradability that already exists in the natural world? These are the questions The MYCOsystem poses to contemporary designers.
At the conclusion of the exposition, all the wooden parts of the MYCOsystem installation will be composted with the assistance of fungi.