Week 0: Introduction

Hello! My senior project will focus on uses of mycelium – specifically in relation to the art industry. I will be seeing if mycelium and natural paints can be used to create a 100% biodegradable, greener alternative to traditional plastic, non-eco-friendly art supplies by observing which combinations of mushroom strains, substrates, and raw materials for natural pigments work best together to create a watercolor paint set that most closely mirrors the functionality of conventional plastic products. 

Mycelium, the intricate, branching network of thread-like structures called hyphae that form the vegetative part of the fungi, holds remarkable potential as a sustainable material. It thrives on various organic substrates, including agricultural waste and discarded materials, effectively transforming what we consider unusable. In recent years, mycelium has been harnessed for various purposes due to its unique properties: it can break down complex organic compounds, including pollutants and toxins through a process called mycoremediation, some artists and designers have used mycelium to create sculptures, furniture, and decorative objects, and certain fungi produce bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical potential. Some scientists are even experimenting with mycelium applications in technology! Mycelium can be used to create durable and lightweight materials – by allowing it to grow in a mold, it forms a solid composite known as mycotecture. This way, I’ll be able to create sturdy, functional, light paint palettes! 

Over the next twelve weeks, I’ll be designing prototypes, picking colors and sourcing natural, raw pigments, discovering different methods of mycelium cultivation, and learning more about mycelium and other biomaterials at Genspace, a community biology lab in Brooklyn! 

You can access my full senior project proposal here. 

And here are Genspace’s Community Projects!