Acrylic ink and India ink pen on watercolour paper.
42 x 52 cm
The scientific community’s discovery of fungi capable of digesting and breaking down plastic has given me optimism about the recycling crisis facing us. Research by Australian scientists, who have successfully used backyard mould to decompose polypropylene — one of the most resistant and persistent plastics — suggests the possibility of new, sustainable ways of addressing environmental waste in the future. The technology is still in its early stages but scientists believe it may one day be scaled to process thousands of tonnes of plastic each year.
Inspired by this knowledge, I have imagined the process of plastic decomposition through the lens of speculative biology and natural transformation. My work visualises the interaction between plastic-eating fungi and synthetic waste, exploring the tension between human-made materials and the regenerative potential of the natural world. It is a hopeful work, and I’m putting a face on a process that I can’t see yet.
Using acrylic ink and India ink pen on watercolour paper, I’ve created an imagined interpretation of fungi consuming and breaking down plastic. Through intricate forms, textures, and organic patterns, the work reflects both the fragility of ecosystems and the possibility of renewal through nature’s own intelligence.