MYC_Casa

The MYC_Casa project draws its roots from the profound appreciation of Romanian folk tradition,  in art and crafts that were influenced by the natural surroundings of mountains, meadows, plateaus, and river valleys. Atelier Dasha Tsapenko took Romanian household objects and narratives created in the rural landscape as examples of deep connection to the land, reverence for nature, and respect for its inhabitants and nature cycles. These objects and rituals, rich in symbolism and of masterful craftsmanship, recall  Dasha’s own homeland – Ukraine. They represent a harmonious lifestyle closely tied to the land, contrasting with today’s globalized and human-centered society.

However, this aligned way of living was disrupted and largely forgotten during the period of communist rule (1945-1989) by the  enforced collectivization of agriculture. Despite this, remnants of these traditions persist in remote mountainous regions, serving as archives of knowledge and a guide for a more sustainable and harmonious future.

Atelier Dasha Tsapenko reimagines the traditional Romanian house, Casa, through a collection of domestic objects, textiles, and garments crafted in collaboration with polypore fungus. By utilizing the natural properties of fungal digestion of cellulose, they create mycelium networks from locally sourced plant fibers like flax, hemp, nettle, and field grass.

Every element of MYC_Casa is cultivated and handcrafted using locally sourced and repurposed materials, woven together with mycelium. This collection embodies the essence of the MYC_Casa project, rooted in interconnectedness between humans and nature, tradition and innovation, past and future.