Career
Lee aims to promote "acceptance of and a personal engagement with death and decomposition" by breeding a unique strain of mushroom that promotes environmentally-friendly tissue decomposition upon death. Lee was previously associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Program in Art, Culture, and Technology, a part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Laboratory She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Wellesley College (1998) and an Master of Surgery degree in visual studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2006).
According to Lee, human bodies accumulate a large amount of toxins during their lifetime.
Upon death, whether the body is cremated or buried, these toxins are released back into the environment. The fungi have been chosen for their potential to utilize the nutrients in human tissue and to remediate industrial toxins in soil.
Once realized, the "Infinity Mushroom" will be applied to the other components of the project The mushrooms can be adapted to grow on the artist"s own collected hair, nails and skin.
Eventually, a body suit will be developed that the deceased in wrapped in, which will promote decomposition.
