FOMES consists of two pieces of seating furniture with generous shapes imitating the characteristics of a polypore mushroom. It unites wood, wool and fungus into a tangible marriage of materials.
The legs are upholstered in soft, suede-like amadou, crafted by Romanian artisans. The seats are covered with woven wool blend.
Amadou, wool blend, birch, plywood
2021
Read about the collection on Dezeen, Vogue Scandinavia, and BluPrint.
The project was supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and the Asko Foundation.
Sensorial Bowls highlight the haptic qualities of Amadou and birch burls, encouraging us to delve into their natural irregularities through tactile exploration. The objects serve as an open invitation to bring fungi into our living spaces, shedding light on their vital but often overlooked role in our ecosystem.
The analogy of burl and polypore mushroom as opposite forces can be seen as a representation of the balance that exists in natural processes. One force drives growth, expansion, and multiplication, while the other force operates through decay, breakdown, and recycling. These seemingly contrasting forces, when viewed in a broader ecological context, are not opposing but complementary.
Birch burl, amadou
2023
In the small mountain village of Corund in Transylvania, a rare craft has been passed down generations. Local residents use a leather-like material made from tinder fungus to create handmade items. The cultural tradition of the village is at risk, and valuable expertise is in danger of being lost as the aging artisans pass away.
The documentary centers around the story of Mr. Imre, one of the oldest amadou craftsmen in the village highlighting how the survival of this craft tradition is contingent on a small group of individuals.
Ferna is a 100% biodegradable handbag made from bacterial cellulose. The material forms as a by-product during the symbiotic fermentation process of lactic acid bacteria and various types of yeasts. Ferna bag is not made to last forever, it’s made to decompose.
The rich brown pigment comes from lichen.
Photo by Kari Ahotupa
Bacterial cellulose
2022
ÄRT investigates the utilization of peapod peels as a lignocellulosic resource in packaging materials. It is the result of a 2-week biomaterial experimentation with peapod peels and various types of wood-based derivates. It proposes possible future applications for pea peel waste and demonstrates decomposable packaging alternatives.
Peapod peels, CMC, MCC
2022
The project was completed during the Nordic Biomaterials course by CHEMARTS at Aalto University.
The formation of bacterial cellulose occurs through fermentation. The resulting floating microbial mat, known as SCOBY, primarily consists of cellulose, various bacterial species, and different types of yeasts. Despite being imperceptible to the human eye, the process is dynamic.
In "A Baby, A Beast," tactility is explored through fungal and bacterial matter. The exhibition showcases a collection of samples from SCOBY, presenting them in both living and dried forms. All samples are dyed exclusively with natural pigments derived from plants and fungi.
A symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast
Natural dyes
2022
The Byni bag is made of Finnish birch and amadou. Birch wood in combination with amadou ties the bag to the symbolism of the forest: The birch forest is a characteristic habitat of Fomes fomentarius.
Amadou, birch, linen
2021
The project was supported by Taike (Arts Promotion Centre Finland).
Amadou has been used for fire-making for thousands of years, for it holds coal well. Even Ötzi the Iceman carried Fomes fomentarius with him. Local people of Transylvania habitually burn pieces of Amadou because of its sedative effects on insects and wild animals.
Tantar is a symbolic piece of jewellery hosting a container where shreds of polypore can be burnt to repel insects.
Tantar is part of the project We Grew Together.
Porcelain, brass
2019
You never asked wearable collection is part of the project We Grew Together. It consists of a mushroom vest and a blouse inspired by the traditional Transylvanian folk costume. This wearable collection is built around a specific cultural situation in the Amadou folklore: polypore mushroom picking. Traditionally, women do not take part in polypore picking in the mountains.
The materials and techniques used in this collection are close to the ones in the Amadou culture: hand-stitching, hand-painting, and hand-pressing.
Amadou, cotton, wool blend
2019
We Grew Together is a culturally sensitive material study of amadou, a suede-like material derived from a polypore mushroom called Fomes fomentarius (Engl. Tinder Mushroom). Local artisans in Transylvania persist in utilizing this folkloric handicraft material, employing it as a textile-like material to create small items such as hats and bags.
The goal of the We Grew Together project was to find new applications for the amadou material and contribute to preserving the dying tradition of amadou handicraft through innovative experimentation. The objects created highlight the qualities of amadou, which is a naturally absorbent, anti-inflammatory, and isolative material. It is also fully natural, vegan, and cruelty-free.
We Grew Together was awarded as the best master’s thesis project of the year 2019 at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and it received the first prize at the Designers’ Saturday Best Talents 2019 Awards.
Fomes fomentarius
2019
A clothes rack inspired by multifunctional, folding room dividers. The 170 offers a variety of storage options for clothes or other textiles. It is easily adjustable into different positions and can be used as a display for carefully selected pieces of garments.
Birch, leather
2017
A foldable futon bed for one person. The Maki bed, with the mattress inside, fits nicely in a cabinet when it’s not used and can easily be rolled out when needed, which makes it suitable for smaller apartments.
The inspiration for the bed came from the structure of an old Swedish round coffin and from a group work made with three other designers during my Bachelor’s studies at Malmstens School.
Birch, linen, foam rubber
2017
Fomes fomentarius grows through the cracks of a tree, covering unprotected spots like plaster. Amadou is an absorbent and naturally antiseptic material with a long history in medicine. Until the mid-1800s, the material was sold at pharmacies. Amadou pieces were used as a remedy for bleeding wounds and various skin injuries, earning it the nickname 'agaric of surgeons.
Bandaj is part of the project We Grew Together.
Amadou, biodegradable tape
2019
The simple and delicate Martin stool is made of beech. It is a perfect companion for work at a table and easy to have around in the kitchen or living room. The Martin stool was chosen to be part of the stool collection of the Carl Malmsten Furniture Studies in 2014.
Beech
2014
The Mortti set is an elegant array of salt, pepper, and a mortar. The salt and pepper casters, completely round, are attached to the tray with a magnet. This product was selected for the Carl Malmstens School production, and a total of 50 sets were made.
Ash, oak
2016