Regeneration

So-called 'fungal leather' is grown from mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, in a controlled environment. To create these materials, a fungal organism is grown as a leaf on the surface of a liquid or solid substrate containing nutrients. The mycelium forms a dense, intertwined network of threadlike structures called hyphae, which can bind together into a material that will be used as a sustainable alternative to leather. This room is an opportunity to show how mycelium can also work under stress. In current applications with mycelium-based materials, the fungal organism is usually killed at the end of the generation process. But what happens if we keep the organism alive while using the material? Could we trust it to regenerate? It could repair itself and take care of its own continuity or... surprise us.