Mycelium as a source for bio-based materials
Mycelium is the white fungal network of filaments that you will find underneath our soil. In the woods these strains or ‘mushroom roots’ are responsible for the transfer of nutrients, detoxification and the degradation of dead plants and treas. It is precisely this feature that makes mycelium a powerful agent in the production of new bio-based materials.
Current developments have pushed mycelium in the fields of fashion, furniture, architecture and fine-arts, stating that it can be seen as ‘the plastic of the future’. Go here to read more about mycelium as an alternative for leather, and a dress made from fungi.
Discuss, learn and grow
In this workshop you will meet up with mushroom expert Wouter Hassing to (critically) discuss the mycelium’s potential and gain a better understanding of how to start cultivating yourself. Over the course of 2 hours you will be introduced to different growth media, substrates, cultivation methods and fungal strains. After which you will produce your own bag of straw substrate and learn how to extract spawn from full grown mushroom at home.
Bio Clean Lab
Both cultivation and the introduction will take place in the Bio Clean Lab; our laboratory which is fully equipped for working with micro-organisms. This Clean Lab is not only available for individual artists and artist in residency programs but it is also the homebase for our Myco Insulation Brewery. A permanent exhibition and production line where we produce beer and grow mycelium insulation panels on the spent grains.
Fungi expert extraordinaire - Wouter Hassing has his own mushroom company in the North of Amsterdam.
About Wouter
Wouter Hassing can be seen as an authority in the field of local mushroom cultivation. His company Mycophilia (in the North of Amsterdam) not only supplies local restaurants with Shiitake en Eryngii but also serves as a platform for research and innovation. Here he investigates new low energy productions methods but also how to make better use of mushrooms in the kitchen (for example pulled pork from oyster mushrooms!).
We Make the City
As the biggest city-festival in Europe, We Make the City explores the future of the City. In what kind of city do we want to live in ten years? At Mediamatic we believe in Fungal Futures, and propagate the potential of the mushroom as the replacement for plastic. Come and learn more about fungal futures and discover possibilities for a Creative, Sustainable and Healthy city during this workshop.
Info
Workshop: Fungi, basic biomaterial introduction during We Make the City
Saturday, 23 June , 15:00 - 17:00
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam
Tickets: Regular €40,- | Student €28,- / Artists €28,- (excl. administration fee)
We might contact you about your student card or other proof to show the discount applies to you.
Please note that this workshop is in English and we need a minimum of 6 participants.
