A recent exhibition titled "Fungi: Anarchist Designers" plunges viewers into a world of eerie fascination, where nature is portrayed as an unyielding force beyond human control. Sylvia Plath's poem Mushrooms, first published in 1959, serves as a foreboding introduction to the unforgiving realm of fungi, which have been thriving on Earth for over a billion years.
These mysterious organisms outmaneuver human attempts at domination and conformity. They thrive on discarded, dead, and dying things, fueling an endless cycle of decay and regrowth. Coprophilic, necrophilic, and silent assassins, fungi are legion, exerting their influence on every corner of our existence.
The exhibition, curated by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing and Feifei Zhou, delves into the fascinating yet unsettling world of fungal design, highlighting how these organisms defy human command. A timelapse film featuring a basket stinkhorn's transformation from fleshy phallus to umbrella-like structure illustrates their unyielding persistence.
As curator Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing puts it, "Fungi refuse the commands of human masters and abide by human standards of propriety." They adapt to humanity's worst habits, turning industrial trade into ecological disasters and rendering vast fields vulnerable to disease. Fungal infections have claimed lives in hospitals and beyond, including those resistant to multiple drugs.
The exhibition also features a striking installation showcasing historic architectural drawings marred by fungal discoloration, as well as "mycelial sculptures" by Japanese artist Hajime Imamura. Lizan Freijsen's tufted floor objects appear as patches of dry rot, while Michael Poulsen's model of a termite mound highlights the symbiotic relationship between fungi and termites.
A film exploring the mysterious bond between matsutake mushrooms and Japanese pine forests serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate relationships within ecosystems. The "architecture must rot" installation reveals how materials are broken down by fungal growth, challenging our perceptions of architecture's permanence.
Ultimately, the exhibition concludes on a hopeful note, urging viewers to rethink their interactions with the more-than-human world and envision futures shaped by cooperation rather than domination. As we delve into this eerie yet captivating realm, it becomes clear that humanity is indeed at risk: "Our foot's in the door."
These mysterious organisms outmaneuver human attempts at domination and conformity. They thrive on discarded, dead, and dying things, fueling an endless cycle of decay and regrowth. Coprophilic, necrophilic, and silent assassins, fungi are legion, exerting their influence on every corner of our existence.
The exhibition, curated by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing and Feifei Zhou, delves into the fascinating yet unsettling world of fungal design, highlighting how these organisms defy human command. A timelapse film featuring a basket stinkhorn's transformation from fleshy phallus to umbrella-like structure illustrates their unyielding persistence.
As curator Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing puts it, "Fungi refuse the commands of human masters and abide by human standards of propriety." They adapt to humanity's worst habits, turning industrial trade into ecological disasters and rendering vast fields vulnerable to disease. Fungal infections have claimed lives in hospitals and beyond, including those resistant to multiple drugs.
The exhibition also features a striking installation showcasing historic architectural drawings marred by fungal discoloration, as well as "mycelial sculptures" by Japanese artist Hajime Imamura. Lizan Freijsen's tufted floor objects appear as patches of dry rot, while Michael Poulsen's model of a termite mound highlights the symbiotic relationship between fungi and termites.
A film exploring the mysterious bond between matsutake mushrooms and Japanese pine forests serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate relationships within ecosystems. The "architecture must rot" installation reveals how materials are broken down by fungal growth, challenging our perceptions of architecture's permanence.
Ultimately, the exhibition concludes on a hopeful note, urging viewers to rethink their interactions with the more-than-human world and envision futures shaped by cooperation rather than domination. As we delve into this eerie yet captivating realm, it becomes clear that humanity is indeed at risk: "Our foot's in the door."
! It's so mind-blowing to see how fungi just take over and destroy all these structures... architecture can be so beautiful, but I guess it's not meant to last forever 
. And have you seen those sculptures? They're like something out of a sci-fi movie! 
The way they highlight the importance of coexisting with nature is really thought-provoking. We need more people thinking about this stuff and trying to find new ways to live in harmony with the environment. It's crazy to think that fungi can actually help us, like by breaking down all that toxic waste 
. I'm definitely going to be thinking about these exhibits for a while... 
It's like, who knew fungi could be so fascinating and terrifying at the same time? 
️ The way they just outsmart us humans and thrive in all these environments is wild. Like, have you seen those stinkhorn mushrooms turn into umbrella-like structures? 
And those mycelial sculptures by Hajime Imamura? So beautiful and unsettling at the same time. 
It's not just about fungi, it's about our relationship with nature and how we can do better. 
But seriously, these exhibits do highlight the weird symbiotic relationships between humans and fungi, especially in architecture. I love how they show these buildings with fungal growths all over them. It's like, yeah, buildings are supposed to rot eventually... 
But hey, if the exhibits can make us rethink our relationship with nature, then I'm all for it. Maybe we should be more like fungi and adapt to changing conditions instead of trying to control everything? 
with over 228 million reported cases in 2022 alone... and the death toll isn't looking good either 
with over 600,000 fatalities recorded last year... no wonder the WHO is sounding the alarm about the threat of antimicrobial resistance 
gotta rethink our entire approach to healthcare 
. And that film about matsutake mushrooms and Japanese pine forests? Give me chills 
. Let's work together and find ways to coexist. It's a hopeful message, especially when it says "our foot's in the door" – I guess that means we've got a chance to make things right 
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! It's like, totally mind-blowing how these organisms can outsmart us and take over entire ecosystems. I mean, they're like the ultimate recyclers, turning our trash into their own food source 
. And the way they adapt to human destruction is just wild - it's like we're the ones who should be learning from them, not the other way around 
. And that timelapse film of the stinkhorn basket is like, totally mesmerizing 
! It's like they're saying, "Hey humans, we've got this whole 'nature is in control' thing down pat." 
. So let's take a cue from these fungal superstars and try to be more... um, less destructive 
. And the way they adapt to our worst habits? That's some next-level stuff right there.
. That whole "architecture must rot" thing has me thinking... maybe our buildings aren't as permanent as we thought? It's all pretty mind-blowing stuff 
! It's a bit unsettling, but also kinda inspiring? I mean, if we can learn to live with (or even rely on) these microscopic monsters, maybe we'll find a way to fix some of our environmental messes. Fingers crossed 
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I mean, what's up with the whole coprophilic thing tho? aren't those just kinda gross? 
... I mean, they're just trying to survive like every other living thing. And those poems by Sylvia Plath? Way too dramatic for my taste 
. They're just describing what happens when things start to rot and decay. It's not exactly revolutionary. And don't even get me started on the whole "fungi as ecosystem disruptors" thing 
... they're just a part of nature, doing their job like everyone else. I mean, humans are the ones who mess up the planet, not fungi 
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It's crazy how they outsmart us humans with their decay and regrowth cycle. And have you seen those time-lapse videos of stinkhorn mushrooms? Mind-blowing! 
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It's like, we're already losing battles to climate change and pollution...if we start to acknowledge that fungi are masters of adaptation too, it might just be a wake-up call for our relationship with the natural world. Food for thought! 
it's wild to think that fungi have been thriving on earth for like a billion years and we're still learning about them 
just saw this exhibition "Fungi: Anarchist Designers" & I'm shook 
can't help but think about our own mortality when faced with these silent assassins... 