USNEA BIOPLASTIC

Usnea is distinguished by the elastic chord or axis running through the middle of the thallus that is revealed by gently pulling. (– the outer fungal layer breaks away easily while the inner core stays in tact )

This is my first experiment in making bioplastic out of corn & glycerine, entombing Usnea inside.

I’ve been thinking about the qualities of synthetic plastic and what makes it so appealing: malleable, sterile, single-use, stretchy, it gives; and also poisons Usnea, gives.
It humbles me

Vegetative reproduction
Asexual Sexual
Queer
Sensitive
Dynamic
Ancient

One individual strand of Usnea may be hundreds of years old.

(All Usnea was collected off pathways after days of high wind)

(Music by Susumu Yokota, song Zenmai)

Bioplastic & video were created at The Ou Residency on Vancouver Island, April 2021