Fungal Hopes in Circular Tropes
Three-Dimensional Piece of Art
07.10.2024
By Nick Loth
Supervisor Dr. Anna-Maria Walter
This project explores the intersection of 3D printing technology and environmental sustainability, highlighting a critical issue within the industry: the challenge of integrating environmental justice into production processes. The project was undertaken as part of the Environmental Studies Certificate Program and utilized a combination of design, modeling, and 3D printing skills to engage with these concerns from an environmental humanities perspective. Rather than adopting a purely professional or academic approach, the project took a more artistic and reflective stance, focusing on how environmental sustainability can be interpreted through creative expression.
At the heart of the project is a 3D-printed capsule, inspired by hypha cells, which are root-like structures in fungi. Made from polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic widely used in consumer 3D printing, the capsule serves a practical function by allowing individuals to collect PLA scraps from failed prints. Once filled, the capsule can be combined with fungal cells and water to initiate a natural decomposition process, allowing it to break down in the environment. This design acts as a commentary on current trends, such as the “Circular Economy,” which often promotes microorganisms like fungi as solutions to waste management. The project challenges this notion, playfully underscoring the complexities and limitations of relying solely on biological processes to address industrial waste issues and the notion of finding simple solutions by fighting symptoms rather than embracing complexity and addressing the systemic issue at hand
One of the primary challenges encountered during this project was the technical complexity of 3D printing the capsule. The design required careful consideration of the geometry to minimize waste, as errors during the lengthy print process could result in significant material loss. While the capsule itself was printed successfully, difficulties arose in printing the accompanying tripod, leading to a failed print. Despite these obstacles, the iterative design process allowed for refinement of both the artistic concept and the final product, ultimately drawing attention to the broader issue of material recycling and decomposition in the context of 3D printing.