Multidisciplinary Artist
Lichen Juice
Like weeds, in my mind Lichens are resilient rebels that grow on/around and in despite of whatever humans build. Our environment is shaped by what we eat and how we live. “Resistance or negotiation between the plant and human worlds is an interesting place to explore.
The lichens alliance (fungi + alga/bacteria) is so badass that they’re on every continent and survive in some quite extreme climates, like Antarctica. They cover roughly 6% of the Earth’s surface on things like rocks, bark, walls, and even hanging in thin air.
There are about 600 species in The Netherlands. They’ve been used to make alcohol, are found growing anywhere, could be a future solution…Researchers at the German Aerospace Center found that some lichen are hardy enough to survive on Mars. So I decided to make Lichen tea.