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The Connected series~ Living mycelium sculptures
Connected is Hannah’s first living artwork in her new series exploring living mycelium sculptures. Connected utilises the unique properties of mycelium, the vegetative network of fungi, to form a living, evolving sustainable sculpture. Connected, invites viewers to engage with the natural cycle of growth, decay, and transformation, challenging traditional notions of sculpture and prompting reflection on our relationship with the living world and with ourselves.
Hannah Hardy’s practice fuses bio-material experimentation with ancient spiritual perspectives to explore deep nature connection, notably through living mycelium sculptures and collaborative ritual sessions. By focusing on projects in rural Morocco and material research, this work decentres human ego in favour of a “living” ecological aesthetic, re-imagining art as a tool for ecological restoration and community connection.
Living Mycelium Sculptures: Art That Breathes
My living mycelium sculptures represent a radical departure from traditional static art. These pieces are not merely objects; they are evolving biological systems—co-creations between human intention and fungal intelligence.
Using mycelium—the vast, underground root network of fungi—I grow sculptural forms that bind organic waste and local substrates into complex, structural textures. This process is a “living laboratory” where I act as a facilitator, providing the framework for the fungi to expand, consume, and eventually solidify. The result is a medium that is entirely sustainable, carbon-sequestering, and ultimately compostable, returning to the Earth from which it grew.
These sculptures serve as a tactile exploration of Deep Nature connection. Inspired by First Nation wisdom and ancient spiritual understandings of the land, each piece reflects the invisible networks that sustain life. They are physical manifestations of the interconnection found in the quantum field—reminding us that there is no separation between the human ego and the ecological web.
When you bring a mycelium sculpture into your space, you are engaging with a piece of “living art” that challenges the anthropocentric gaze. It is an invitation to witness the beauty of decay and rebirth, and to re-imagine our relationship with the planet through the lens of ancient ritual and contemporary innovation.
The Geometry of Connection: Quantum Flow and Natural Pattern
My practice is moving deeper into the invisible architectures of the quantum field—the underlying frequency that connects all matter. I am fascinated by how this field expresses itself through the “language” of nature: the infinite complexity of fractals, the golden ratio of the Fibonacci sequence, and the rhythmic flow of natural lines.
Through the intuitive act of drawing and mark-making, I find these patterns emerge spontaneously, mirroring the same branching logic found in mycelial networks, river systems, and celestial bodies. This is where I find my “flow state”—a meditative alignment where the ego dissolves, and the hand follows the same creative intelligence that shapes a seashell or a galaxy.
By translating these universal geometries into three-dimensional forms, I am exploring how art can act as a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical. My work seeks to capture that precise moment of quantum coherence where structure meets spirit, inviting you to witness the sacred patterns that bind us to the living fabric of the universe.
Hannah’s living mycelium sculptures are featured in The new issue of the Ecological Citizen : https://www.ecologicalcitizen.net/pdfs/Vol%207%20No%202.pdf
Above images. Connected. Living mycelium sculptures by Hannah Hardy 2024. Above right. Detail. The images below are after one day of releasing from the mould. The images at the top display the mycelium growth after two days after release from the mould.
Connected presents a unique artistic opportunity to explore the intersection of art, science, and nature. By harnessing the transformative power of mycelium, this project offers a dynamic, evolving sculpture that fosters dialogue about sustainability, material innovation, and our relationship with the living world. Through its interactive and educational potential, Connected hopes to inspire wonder, spark curiosity, and challenge viewers to perceive the artistic possibilities within the natural world.
SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE EXHIBITION;
https://metaspacegallery.com/exhibitions/2024-2/sustainability-in-practice/#hardy
Feedback from previous Connected- mycelium sculpture workshops
