Mycelium art installation
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter, originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, synthetic fibre shedding, industrial pellet leakage, and microbes in personal care products. With the growing global plastic pollution crisis, microplastics have emerged as a pervasive and insidious contaminant, drawing increasing attention from the scientific community.
This installation explores the intersection of biotechnology, sustainability, and design by demonstrating how living mycelium can engage with synthetic waste. The structure consists of microplastics encapsulated within a cultivated mycelium core, enclosed in a translucent protective shell. Over time, the mycelium grows around and begins to metabolize the embedded microplastic fragments, symbolizing both a biological process and a metaphor for ecological resilience.
The circular base integrates a projection system, which magnifies and displays the microscopic digestion process of the mycelium breaking down plastic particles. This dual-layer experience—material and visual—creates a dialogue between what is visible to the eye and what happens on a microscopic scale. By transforming decomposition into an aesthetic and interactive encounter, the work invites viewers to reflect on how design can mediate human–nature–technology relationships, and how future materials might contribute to reducing the burden of plastic pollution.
Interactive & Educational Dimension
This installation is not only a material experiment but also an educational tool. By inviting children to observe the living process of mycelium interacting with microplastics, the work transforms scientific inquiry into an accessible and engaging experience. The projection of microscopic digestion allows young audiences to visually grasp otherwise invisible ecological processes, sparking curiosity about sustainability, biology, and the future of materials.
Through this encounter, the installation becomes a bridge between art, science, and education—encouraging the next generation to reflect on their relationship with waste, nature, and technology in a playful yet thought-provoking way.