The Art of Mushrooms - Somerset House's Rooms Filled with 'Shrooms
Mushrooms: the Art, Design & Future of Fungi is the latest exhibition at Somerset House. It may sound niche, but this really is a timely and fascinating little exhibition that celebrates the mighty mushroom.
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| Amanda Cobbett |
Did you know that without fungi, all ecosystems would fail?
And did you know that beneath that cute little red and white toadstool on the forest floor, is a subterranean network of fungal threads? Mushrooms are merely the tip of the iceberg; the fruit of a larger underground organism.
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| 'Mushrooms: The Art, Design And Future of Fungi' |
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| Beatrix Potter |
The exhibition takes as its departure point, our shifting perceptions towards fungi, explaining that many years ago, and particularly in Europe, mushrooms were associated with 'witchcraft, poison and decay'. It was only in the 19th Century that mushrooms came to be viewed more favourably. This is demonstrated in the rise of botany and their appearance in popular children's tales, such as Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
It is from this introduction that we explore 'mycophilia' (enthusiasm for mushrooms). On display are books both with scientific observations of fungi and also more playful forms in children's literature. The beauty of mushrooms is expressed through the selection of artwork. A personal highlight were the mushroom replicas by artist Amanda Cobbett. These beautiful pieces are made from a combination of rayon, silk and papier-mache.
You cannot study the world of fungi without exploring the magic mushroom (or the psilocybin mushroom). Of course, there is no practical application of this going on at Somerset House but the exhibition explains its psychedelic wonder, including some famous users (unsurprisingly Lewis Carroll is mentioned again here). Interestingly, there are some ground-breaking studies on the use of psilocybin mushrooms to treat depression.
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| Hamish Pearch |
I cannot say that I will be buying mycelium shoes any time soon, but I would gladly take the beautiful installation that sits in the foyer outside the exhibition. It was created with the London Flower School, and shows a beautiful tower of intermingled fungi and flowers. The mushrooms featured on the installation were grown in Somerset House's own disused coalholes using straw and waste coffee grounds provided by their cafe. As well as being used for art, they are being used in the on-site restaurants!
By looking at three distinct themes - Mycophilia, Magic Mushrooms, the Future of Fungi - the exhibition studies these organisms from all angles. What you would assume to be a niche exhibition, is surprisingly timely and applicable in light of the need for mankind to examine their relationship with, and impact on, the natural world. Oh, and guess what, it's free!