Accidental Growth Mika Tan -

A new material named “Wildermold Skin.” Tan now intentionally cross-contaminates her koji cultures with local molds from different sites, producing regionally distinct bioplastics.

Rather than discard, Tan isolated the contaminated cultures and found that the Trichoderma produced a flexible, water-resistant pellicle with tensile strength superior to the intended bioplastic. accidental growth mika tan

Accident revealed a new material category: locative textile —fabric that indexes the microbial history of its environment. Unrepeatable, but generative. 4.3 Spore Bank: Failed Specimens (2024–ongoing) Tan attempted to cultivate a pure strain of Aspergillus oryzae (koji) on rice waste to produce a uniform bioplastic. Contamination by wild green mold ( Trichoderma ) repeatedly occurred. A new material named “Wildermold Skin

Different fungal species created distinct “zones”—Penicillium produced blue-green patches that stiffened fibers; an unidentified basidiomycete decomposed sections into lace-like holes. The resulting fabric could not be cut or sewn conventionally; Tan instead suspended the sheets as “recordings of a place.” Unrepeatable, but generative