Back in 2011, Korean designer and bioartist Jae Rhim Lee came up with the idea of a burial suit that, after death, disposes of human remains, turning them into the basis for mycelium.
Lee showed off her design at TED Global 2011 in Edinburgh, but then it was only a prototype. The modified version was called the Infinity Burial Suit ("Burial suit of infinity"). The novelty is sold by the American company Coeio, which was founded by Jae Rim Lee herself, in order to bring the idea of an eco-friendly funeral to life.
According to Li, she is very concerned that traditional funerals are damaging the environment. Before the ceremony, the body of the deceased is treated with formalin, which slows down the decomposition process, which is a toxic substance. After cremation, waste also remains - heavy metals, toxic gases and other substances that are harmful to the environment.
Meanwhile, mushrooms are considered the most effective reducers: they have even been adapted for recycling plastic waste and diapers. Fungi destroy the dead remains of living things, turning them into inorganic and simplest organic compounds. They are also capable of processing toxic substances.
Lee originally wanted to create a "mushroom of eternity" - a hybrid species that can decompose bodies, cleanse them of toxins and deliver nutrients to plant roots. However, as it turned out, it is almost impossible to do this, so the eco-artist turned to well-known species - oyster mushrooms and shiitake. “I thought I could 'train' an army of edible mushrooms to eat my body,” Lee said.
This is how the concept of the "mushroom" funeral costume appeared. It is decorated with embroidery resembling mycelium, which contains mushroom spores. The set includes "embalming liquid" - a liquid suspension of fungal spores, which must be covered with the body, as well as a decomposing composition from a mixture of mineral components with dried mushroom spores and a separate liquid nutrient medium. When these components combine together, fungal spores begin to grow and develop on the remains.
Note that the possibility of "eternal life", albeit in the form of mushrooms, seduces many: Lee already has many clients, and the designers have tried to make the costumes as attractive as possible - in a biological sense -. The sketches, worked on by up-and-coming eco-wear brand Daniel Silverstain, will be on display at New York Fashion Week in September.
Promotional video:
By the way, the Coeio company offers mushroom beds for pets as well.