The Mushrooms
Photography, Book Design
The Mushrooms is a book that takes us into the depths of the forest and gives us an insight into the fascinating world of mushrooms.
The HDG (Haus des Gastes) Sasbachwalden initiated the publication of several books in 2020. The aim was to make the advantages of Sasbachwalden, a well-known wine village in the northern Black Forest, accessible to a wide audience through various book contributions and to report on them. The book “The Mushrooms” was also created in the course of these publications. Alongside the vines, the surrounding forest is the habitat in which this village is embedded. It is therefore not surprising that the forest was given special attention in numerous articles. More and more people are once again enjoying the local recreation areas. Hiking in the local area is back in fashion.
Intensive walking in the forest, the “Shinrin-yoku”, which has a long tradition in Japan and promises health of mind and body, has found its way into Europe. Translated, the term means “forest bathing”. It means engaging with the natural forest environment with all your senses.
We try to perceive the forest. This includes seeing the different forms of nature around us, smelling the scents of the forest and trying to identify them, and hearing the sounds made by the wind or the inhabitants of this habitat. Forest bathing teaches us to encounter and participate in the forest habitat. Someone who swims in the water knows more about the water than someone who only looks at it from the outside. Forest bathing means developing an understanding of life and our involvement in it. This is only possible for those who expose themselves to the habitat with all their senses. Forest bathing culminates in immersion. Those who snorkel and penetrate the depths understand even more about the ocean than someone who only swims on its surface.
And that brings us to the mushrooms, the trophies of every diver. They are hidden in the depths of the forest, in the undergrowth, where they thrive in sparse light. These wonders of architecture, with their fascinating properties, serve many people. Edible mushrooms have a natural pre-eminence. But the healing powers of some inedible mushrooms have allowed them to find their way into our medicine. Others have been used as building material or fuel. They all carry a secret. They are connected to the primordial ground of the forest. An encounter with them is an encounter with the primordial ground. This is where the taste of the forest is at its most intense. They are the bath salts of every forest bath.
This book features photographs of mushrooms taken during an exploration in the northern Black Forest. The images convey the atmosphere of these encounters and give us an idea of what it means to delve deep into the forest habitat. The accompanying texts take us on a journey to the origins of the forest. The grace of the mushrooms, whether appearing as a group or solitary, impresses and moves us deep inside. The architecture, the light, the dignity and the naturalness of their existence give us an insight into something hidden that is of great value to us. Mushrooms teach us the importance of connection. We are symbiotic beings like them. The environment is significant, requires adaptation, and emergence and development are tied to multiple conditions. In the midst of these challenges, however, lies the opportunity for harmony and beauty to unfold.
The dark cover with the image of the mysterious tinder fungus is the introduction to the illustrated experience of immersing yourself in the northern Black Forest.
The mushrooms native to the area are captured in an atmospheric way and illustrated on a large scale. The special features of each protagonist are highlighted with lyrical words.
The architecture, filigree or arrangement of mushrooms leave us amazed. To this day, mushrooms are used in medicine, cosmetics and research for various building materials.
Perspectives and light create scenes that give us a lasting awareness of the usually overlooked inhabitants of the forest. They encourage us to rediscover the forest.
On 360 pages we take part in an intensive forest tour. This can be recreated at any time in the northern Black Forest. The municipality of Sasbachwalden promotes its gifted location with this book.
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