Phil Ross
Phil Ross lives and works in the United States, developed his fascination for mushrooms 25 years ago when he learned about the healing properties of the Reishi mushroom. But there is more than consuming. Phil combined his extensive research in mushrooms with his art practice. For him The question is not, 'What can fungus do?' It is; What do you want it to do?. With the mushroom mycelium he started creating furniture and architectural constructions, so-called Mycotecture.
Toby Kiers
How do micro-organisms exchange resources with the environment? What happens underground as huge complex networks of fungi trade nutrients with plant roots? According to Toby Kiers, these microbial underground markets function very similarly to our own economic system. There is giving and taking, hoarding, cheating, supply and demand. We can use economic theory to study the microbial world. Or is it the microbial world that can teach us about economics?
Zeger Reyers
Zeger Reyers is a Dutch artist using all sorts of living materials. Showing typical processes in different biotopes Zeger makes objects that are shaped by living materials, such as furniture and machines that are overgrown by mushrooms or chairs he sunk in the Oosterschelde to get them covered by mussels. Reyer's artworks provokes a new way of seeing these natural processes, by juxtaposing the human controllable versus natures uncontrollable.
Why we work with fungi
Fungi are organisms that have an enormous cultural potential that we are only just starting to discover. Some people even claim that they will save the world. For Mediamatic fungi are a source of new materials that can replace many synthetics in the 21st century. They play an important role in our food systems al well as having great symbolical value. That why we like to work with them on many levels.
Bio-me
How will designing with organisms change our perspective on art, design, food and beer? Find out at Bio-me. 3 Days of workshops, talks, tastings, Fermentology! and the expo Kunstformen Der Natur. This workshop by Phil Ross is part of the Bio-me program. For further information on the complete program, visit www.mediamatic.net/biome.
Information
Thursday 18th, 17:30 - 20:30
Mediamatic Fabriek, VOC-kade 10 (next to Roest) on the ground floor.
Price: €3,50 plus a valid Mediamatic membership (€5,- for 9 weeks). Get your ticket and membership now and click the 'buy your ticket' button underneath the title of this article.
In between the talks of Toby Kiers and Zeger Reyers we serve home-made Pumpkin Soup.