Invited to exhibit as part of PLAY by Design Tasmania during MONA FOMA, we chose to exhibit our Mycelium-hybrid bio material Stool and Pendant Lights; experiments in Mycelium based biodegradable products, developed at Symbiosis Lab; a collaboration between Mycelium Studios and Phillipaa Abbott.

Mycelium Stool - “Toadstool” -  was developed in collaboration with Mycelium Studios, Matt Woods, and Josh Reisel.

Mycelium pendant lights “GodLights” - were developed in collaboration with Mycelium Studios and Phillipa Abbott.

PLAY is an exhbition that allows us to explore the impossible. Play in youth education programs was inaugurated in the early 19th century concept of Kindergarten as an essential part of developing "physical, intellectual and moral powers of all children" (Wilderspin, Samuel 'The Infant System' 1832).

"The opposite of play isn't work: it's boredom"

–Dr. Stuart Brown, National Institute for Play (US)

Playing with materials is a form of synthesising insight– the isolation of COVID has had the unexpected impact of becoming a sandbox for creative ideas: PLAY gives a platform to the articulation of the curiosity and problem solving that has come out of this historic shift in our collective consciousness.

Presented in association with MONA FOMA 2021.

Curated by Claire Beale.

Image Credit: EMILY DIMOZANTOS