What is Abusive Mushroom?
In 2011, artist Manuel Riccardi decided to overturn the rules of the art market. Tired of the exclusive and expensive dynamics of galleries, he embraced a radical concept: art in motion. Thus was born the project "Sowing Mushrooms"—an idea that blends art, ecology, and spirituality into a poetic and anarchic gesture. Riccardi has always drawn a single subject: a mushroom. This element, reproduced in paintings and works of various formats, is not just a distinctive mark but a profound symbol. His works are neither sold nor exhibited in conventional spaces: they are abandoned, left in random or meaningful places, at the mercy of fate and encounter. Those who find them become "accidental collectors," transforming from simple passersby into guardians of a fragment of this artistic cycle.
THE MUSHROOM AS A SYMBOL OF CONNECTION AND POTENTIAL
The mushroom is not merely an aesthetic representation but a powerful symbol of connection and regeneration. In the natural world, fungi are among the oldest and most sophisticated organisms. Their mycelium—the underground network of fungal filaments—is one of the most complex biological structures known: it connects trees and plants in a kind of natural internet, allowing exchanges of nutrients, alarm signals, and even shared survival strategies. Likewise, Riccardi "sows" his artworks to create unpredictable connections between people. A piece left in a park, on a bench, or in a train station becomes a node in this invisible network, sparking encounters and reflections. Mushrooms also have extraordinary abilities: • Bioremediation: they can absorb and transform toxic substances, cleaning soil and water. • Regeneration: some species grow after devastating fires, repopulating scorched lands. • Collective intelligence: even without a brain, the mycelium makes complex decisions, adapting to the environment in surprising ways.
THE CONNECTION TO BODHISATTVAS: MUSHROOMS AND ENLIGHTENMENT
In a parallel between nature and spirituality, Riccardi's mushroom also evokes the figures of Bodhisattvas—enlightened beings in the Buddhist tradition who, despite having reached enlightenment, choose to remain in the world to help others find the way. Bodhisattvas emerge from the earth of Samsara, just like mushrooms after the rain. They are symbols of compassion, wisdom, and transformation, acting silently and humbly—just as mycelium works beneath the surface of the soil.
THE ENCOUNTER WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE METAPHOR OF ADAM
Over time, the Sowing Mushrooms project has gained a new dimension: photography. While the act of abandoning the artwork represents a gesture of dissemination, photography becomes both a tool of memory and documentation, as well as an additional symbolic layer to the entire project. This is where Adam enters the scene—a trans boy who becomes a living metaphor for the mushroom itself. Just as mushrooms belong neither to the animal nor plant kingdom, Adam embodies a threshold, a fluid space, an identity that escapes binary categories. His body and presence amplify the message of Riccardi's mushroom: an invitation to recognize and embrace complexity, interconnection, and transformation.
THE ARCHIVE AND THE JOURNEY OF THE ARTWORK
Together with Adam, Riccardi creates a series of photographs in which the paintings are placed in evocative and unexpected settings. Before being abandoned, each artwork is captured in carefully chosen locations: urban edges, natural environments, anonymous city corners filled with stories.
ART AS CONTINUOUS MUTATION
Photography is not just a way to collect traces, but an autonomous artistic act that reinforces the concept of mutation and movement. Riccardi's work, which already challenges the notion of ownership and stillness, finds in photography a means to expand its reach. With the introduction of photography, Sowing Mushrooms is no longer merely a gesture of abandonment and dissemination, but also a practice of poetic documentation—a play between presence and absence, a visual meditation on impermanence and the beauty of encounter.
Later in the project, photography has also been included. The photo section adds another symbol to the project, it is the model Adam. A trans boy, a metaphor of the nature of mushrooms that are neither vegetable (without photosynthesis) nor animal. A network of strong relationships has grown around this "artistic movement", as evidenced by the stories published on the website. The Abusive Mushroom Project will interact with the world for at least another 10 years, its aim being to create a stir and promote this form of non-violent protest.