Breakdown The Promise of Decay On view January 25 - September 28, 2025
Breakdown: The Promise of Decay examines the vibrancy of decay. This interdisciplinary exhibition explores notions of time, waste, and the in-between. Breakdown shines a light on the dark corners of the life cycle recognizing the oft-overlooked workhorses of the ecosystem. From mycelium to microplastics, this exhibition focuses on what breaks down and what does not.
Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental challenges in the 21st century. Microplastics, tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic, thwart the pressures of time and decomposition. They are ubiquitous, like fungi: found outdoors in soil and on plants, indoors on surfaces and in the air, on our skin and inside the body. In the end, it comes from our stuff – which is everywhere.
Featuring contemporary artwork, objects from the museum’s collection, and scientific innovations in the curious world of decomposition, Breakdown asks the public to value a world they cannot see in order to protect the one we can.
Curated by Rylee Eterginoso and Colleen Evans
Breakdown: The Promise of Decay examines the vibrancy of decay. This interdisciplinary exhibition explores notions of time, waste, and the in-between. Breakdown shines a light on the dark corners of the life cycle recognizing the oft-overlooked workhorses of the ecosystem. From mycelium to microplastics, this exhibition focuses on what breaks down and what does not.
Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental challenges in the 21st century. Microplastics, tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic, thwart the pressures of time and decomposition. They are ubiquitous, like fungi: found outdoors in soil and on plants, indoors on surfaces and in the air, on our skin and inside the body. In the end, it comes from our stuff – which is everywhere.
Featuring contemporary artwork, objects from the museum’s collection, and scientific innovations in the curious world of decomposition, Breakdown asks the public to value a world they cannot see in order to protect the one we can.
Curated by Rylee Eterginoso and Colleen Evans
Fungi: Interwoven Worlds Exhibition Booklet
Fungi accompany us at every turn. They are in the soil and air, on our skin, in buildings, and out of doors. Some show off their colors with caps and stems; others are miniscule or live in inaccessible places, and many spin extensive underground networks (mycelia). Without fungi, no living organism on earth could exist in its present form. Yet their importance within the web of life is usually underestimated. Learning about fungi means recognizing relationships and interwovenness where previously there were individual organisms. The exhibition Fungi – Interwoven Worlds takes you mushrooming – in contemporary art. Supplemented by scientific findings, the show featuring international artists invites visitors to discover the amazing world of fungi.
Fungi accompany us at every turn. They are in the soil and air, on our skin, in buildings, and out of doors. Some show off their colors with caps and stems; others are miniscule or live in inaccessible places, and many spin extensive underground networks (mycelia). Without fungi, no living organism on earth could exist in its present form. Yet their importance within the web of life is usually underestimated. Learning about fungi means recognizing relationships and interwovenness where previously there were individual organisms. The exhibition Fungi – Interwoven Worlds takes you mushrooming – in contemporary art. Supplemented by scientific findings, the show featuring international artists invites visitors to discover the amazing world of fungi.
Mushrooms – Intertwined Worlds
Fungi accompany us everywhere we go: in the soil, in the air, on our skin, in buildings and outdoors.
Some are colorful with caps and stems, others are tiny and live in inaccessible places, and some spin extensive underground networks (mycelia). Without fungi, no living creature on earth could exist in its current form, but their importance in the network of life is often underestimated. The exhibition Mushrooms - Interwoven Worlds takes you on a mushroom hunt - in contemporary art. Complemented by scientific positions, the show with international artists invites you to rediscover the amazing world of mushrooms.
Until the 20th century, mushrooms were considered plants. Today we know that alongside flora and fauna there is the "Funga": the huge and still largely mysterious and unexplored kingdom of fungi. There are said to be more than 3 million species, but only about 120,000 have been scientifically described and researched. There is huge potential here: both to better understand and preserve life on earth and to implement ecologically sustainable lifestyles. Mushrooms can be used to obtain material for packaging, clothing and the construction industry. They can be eaten as a meat substitute and used to produce medicinally effective substances. We can probably still learn a lot from these thread-like creatures.
The exhibition focuses on the relationships between fungi, plants, insects and humans, because fungi are the great networkers among living creatures. How do fungi live? What does their existence have to do with ours? What can we learn from fungi? Together with artists from all over the world, the exhibition explores such questions. It moves between growing mycelium and talking fly agarics and sometimes literally examines fungi. Complemented by objects from the natural sciences, the show helps us see the living world of fungi around us with different eyes.
With works by
Rodrigo Arteaga, Selin Balci, Suzette Bousema, Anne Carnein, Mia Dudek, Anna Dumitriu and Alex May, Wim van Egmond, Dominik Einfalt, David Fenster, Juan Ferrer and Natalie Cabrera, Fungi Foundation, Takashi Homma, Markus Huemer, Silas Inoue, Liu Yujia, Phyllis Ma, MY-CO-X, Jana Palečková, Irena Posner, SPUN, V. meer and others
Some are colorful with caps and stems, others are tiny and live in inaccessible places, and some spin extensive underground networks (mycelia). Without fungi, no living creature on earth could exist in its current form, but their importance in the network of life is often underestimated. The exhibition Mushrooms - Interwoven Worlds takes you on a mushroom hunt - in contemporary art. Complemented by scientific positions, the show with international artists invites you to rediscover the amazing world of mushrooms.
Until the 20th century, mushrooms were considered plants. Today we know that alongside flora and fauna there is the "Funga": the huge and still largely mysterious and unexplored kingdom of fungi. There are said to be more than 3 million species, but only about 120,000 have been scientifically described and researched. There is huge potential here: both to better understand and preserve life on earth and to implement ecologically sustainable lifestyles. Mushrooms can be used to obtain material for packaging, clothing and the construction industry. They can be eaten as a meat substitute and used to produce medicinally effective substances. We can probably still learn a lot from these thread-like creatures.
The exhibition focuses on the relationships between fungi, plants, insects and humans, because fungi are the great networkers among living creatures. How do fungi live? What does their existence have to do with ours? What can we learn from fungi? Together with artists from all over the world, the exhibition explores such questions. It moves between growing mycelium and talking fly agarics and sometimes literally examines fungi. Complemented by objects from the natural sciences, the show helps us see the living world of fungi around us with different eyes.
With works by
Rodrigo Arteaga, Selin Balci, Suzette Bousema, Anne Carnein, Mia Dudek, Anna Dumitriu and Alex May, Wim van Egmond, Dominik Einfalt, David Fenster, Juan Ferrer and Natalie Cabrera, Fungi Foundation, Takashi Homma, Markus Huemer, Silas Inoue, Liu Yujia, Phyllis Ma, MY-CO-X, Jana Palečková, Irena Posner, SPUN, V. meer and others
Finalists announced for the 2024 Baker Artist Awards!
Finalists announced for the 2024 Baker Artist Awards
36 artists selected from the Baker Artist Portfolios
Finalists announced for the 2024 Baker Artist Awards
36 artists selected from the Baker Artist Portfolios
Visiting professor shares process and philosophy of her ‘bio-art’
Selin Balci combines her education in science with her artistic practice, using biological mediums to create her works. She gave the first of three visiting faculty artist talks this semester.
Selin Balci combines her education in science with her artistic practice, using biological mediums to create her works. She gave the first of three visiting faculty artist talks this semester.