22 July 2012 - Artist and designer Tobias Revell
has imagined a future in which the massive city of New Mumbai
is powered by energy-generating mushrooms.
In his sci-fi "documentary" Revell explains how a futuristic synthetic
biology research lab discovers their fungi samples have been stolen by
Indian thieves who have quickly learned to adapt the technology for
their personal and community needs. An underground market for the magic mushrooms
begins to grow, commerce increases, and living conditions begin to improve in a dramatic and environmentally friendly way. Revell's faux documentary explains how the mushrooms grow quickly and begin to
harvest the sun, creating energy that provides heat and lighting, like
an organic solar panel
.
They can even be engineered to power a whole building. Some grow strong
enough to be used as shelter, parts of building structures, and
surfaces to grow local crops. Their porous surfaces also absorb water from the
seasonal downpours, which can be collected and used for drinking and
bathing. While Revell’s ideas may seem far fetched
,
they certainly capture the social and economic issues of Mumbai, and
present a truly unique solution. The film encourages creative
eco-friendly problem solving
on a large scale, which may not be too hard to believe in the future.
