Web link: www.callumcaplan.com
Preferred Dates: 18 th August – 1 st September
Bio
I am a final year undergraduate student of Fine Art at Newcastle University. My practice explores the
themes of sustainability and the unimagined future. Living in a time of great uncertainty, I aim to question
and reimagine the structures and foundations on which we build our society. By challenging the
fundamental grounds of civilisation, I hope to present a way in which humanity can progress, with less
environmental and socio-political issues. Currently, I am working towards my final year Degree Show at
Newcastle University. My project explores the production lines of food and energy manufacturing. Primarily
exploring the confinements of the domestic space, I am reimagining familiar architectural structures. Whilst
combining a multitude of artistic concepts, my work strives to represent a probable solution to the current
climate of food production.
A portion of my research in 2017 focuses on the introduction of new sustainable materials, such as
mycelium bricks and biodegradable plastics. I have recently finalised a proposal for The North-East
Sculptor of The Year Award, after being named a shortlisted artist. My proposal, named Manufactured
Mycelium, is a series of large domed architectural structures made from mycelium material. The structures
will be 10 metres in diameter and will be constructed from wooden dowels encased in a thick layer of
mycelium. The mycelium material was chosen to demonstrate the potential of new sustainable materials
that we are yet to exploit, providing a glimpse of how we could progress into future architectural and
product design.
Project Proposal
My main interest in mycelium material is its potential to be used in the fabrication and construction of
houses or transportation. With sustainable materials being discovered at a rate like never before, why is
architectural and transportation design not adapting at a similar pace? Are large corporations utilising their
position for sustainable usage or private and financial gain? Unfortunately, it would appear to be the latter.
However, in my opinion, more education and public exposure to sustainable materials can create a shift in
the material choices of future design.
Therefore, my proposal will demonstrate and communicate the potential of mycelium as a building material.
This will be an example of one of the many sustainable materials that we are yet to fully embrace in design
today. I would like this example to be literal and show how this material could function in modern design. I
propose to build a small rowing boat out of mycelium and wood. The boat’s main structure will be made
from lightweight wooden dowels. The boat will be made in sections, to allow the mycelium covering to grow,
and be dried to create the waterproof resultant shell. The sections will be attached together and be made
water tight with a water-resistant sealer. The boat will be floating on the surface of a large tank of water. It
will be fully functional, allowing the public to see limitless potentials in a range of sustainable, natural
materials that we should exploit. Alongside this sculpture will be a collation of imagery and text from
information, researched during my residency. I understand that constructing and fabricating this object will
be challenging under the time limitations of this opportunity. However, with my positive previous experience
of growing mycelium, I think the proposal will be achievable and successful.