Tori McCrea

Touched by Mycelium is a project that takes a closer look at the invisible underground networks that sustain life within forest ecosystems.
Focusing on mycelium and its role in supporting biodiversity, the project researches how unseen natural systems create connections between plants, trees ,and other organisms through exchange and cooperation.
My work looks at the relationship between humans and the environment by deliberately removing humans from the images.
This shift in focus is intentional to have viewers reflect on ecosystems independently from a human centered perspective and to consider humanity’s impact on the natural world. The project highlights the idea that humans are part of a larger interconnected system rather than separate from it, and one can learn a lot from these systems by paying attention. My project combines analogue and sustainable photographic processes, including cyanotype printing and handmade techniques. Sustainability is central to both the concept and production of the work, with non-toxic processes and natural materials used throughout the process.T he final work consists of a handmade box with an accordion-style publication and an analogue-inspired audiovisual work created with approximately 500 individual cyanotype frames. Together, these elements show the hidden structures, movement, and interconnected nature of mycelium networks. Through this project, my hope is to create a deeper awareness of overlooked ecological systems and to encourage reflection on care, interdependence and environmental responsibility. And that the viewer is as fascinated with mycelium as I am.