Upcoming exhibition will explore the role of fungi in shaping our world
Over 100 artists from across the south west region expressed interest in RAMM’s latest contemporary art commissions. Following presentations by six shortlisted artists to an independent selection panel, the Exeter City Council Museum has announced the two artists who will create new artwork for the exhibition Living Labyrinths: Art & Fungi in autumn 2026.
The commissioned artists are sound artist Jason Singh, and Gemma Anderson-Tempini, who uses drawing to explore mycology. Both artists live in Devon: Jason in Newton Abbott and Gemma in Exeter. Neither artist has shown work at RAMM before.
Jason Singh will create an immersive bio sonification sound installation derived from the electrical biodata and the sound of fungi, mycelium, soil and environmental field recordings from locations in Devon. This immersive soundscape installation will also include recorded interviews with mycologists, storytellers, and herbalist practitioners.
In response to receiving the news, he said:
‘I am absolutely thrilled and overjoyed to be working with RAMM on the Living Labyrinths exhibition. I am super excited about bringing the sounds of fungi to new audiences and helping people to explore and learn about this fascinating world in new and imaginative ways.
‘My plan is to create deeply immersive soundscapes using spatial sound technology to take people on a sonic journey to the world underneath our feet and on our doorstep. It will include music created in collaboration with fungi from around Devon as well as field recordings of natural habitats and interviews with specialists. It is all very exciting!’
Gemma Anderson-Tempini’s new drawing Body Mapping the Mycobiome will reimagine her own body as an assemblage of diverse cellular communities. Through imaginative images, it will explore the invisible fungi within and around our bodies. The artwork will also include mycological inks and Killerton Estate soil pigments, a place that has personal as well as mycological significance.
Gemma said:
‘I’m absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to work with RAMM and collaborate with scientists from the University of Exeter to explore the fascinating world of fungi and the mycobiome. This project feels like a natural evolution of my ongoing interdisciplinary work investigating biological processes and morphology, and it will be meaningful to developing the artwork in partnership with the museum and community where I live and work.’
The commissioned works will feature in the exhibition Living Labyrinths: Art & Fungi, a unique exhibition at RAMM which will explore themes such as symbiosis, biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and the role of fungi in shaping our world. RAMM’s newly conserved natural science collections of fungi specimens will also be on display in the exhibition.
Lara Goodband, curator of the exhibition and RAMM’s Contemporary Art Curator & Programmer said:
‘I am hugely excited to begin working with such creative artists. I know their imaginative responses to RAMM’s inspiring collections of fungi will wow visitors. I can’t wait to see what they both make!’
Exeter City Council lead for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Bob Foale said:
‘This shows what incredible talent there is in Exeter and Devon and I am proud that the City Council’s flagship institution, the award-winning museum RAMM, can support and enable creativity to flourish here. I am looking forward to this groundbreaking exhibition. Thank you to our partner funders Arts Council England for supporting the contemporary art programme at RAMM.’
Living Labyrinths: Art & Fungi opens 3 October 2026 and runs until 21 February 2027.
