Symbiosis/\Dysbiosis

Tosca continues researching and experimenting with mycelium and mushroom grown materials for the Tactile interfaces. Working with Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) and Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) using various methods. Cardboard cultivation and hemp/hardwood substrates. 

Once sheets are grown they will be laser or hand cut into shapes that represent lichen, and fruiting body formations. These will be layered up, creating a dense tactile interface. Within this myco-leather are embedded haptic motors, and proximity sensors, that when triggered- send data to LEDs and vibration motors that have been grown within living mycelium. This acts as a form of touch/presence. The mycelium respond to this 'touch' and send data into the VR environment. 

Symbiosis//Dysbiosis

Work in Progress

Boreal forests, or taiga, represent the largest terrestrial biome. Forests occupy approximately one-third of Earth's land area, account for over two-thirds of the leaf area of land plants and contain about 70% of carbon present in living things yet despite this significance, humankind continue to have an unbalanced, parasitic like relationship to this important biome.  

Ultimately, it is up to the Humans and how they respond within this environment that determines how the non-humans react and respond. Whether the non-Humans choose to pair for Symbiosis, which can lead to evolution or Dysbiosis, which can end in a COVID-19 scenario, or worse. 

Terán and Vogl met during The New Nature Exchange, An Immersive Media and Climate Science Exchange between Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the US hosted by the Goethe Institute Montreal, curated by Samara Chadwick that took place in May 2020. 

Terán’s practice resides in physical, material and sound based works. Vogl’s immersive VR environments and expertise, in combination take both practices into another realm; combining material/physicality with VR which will culminate in a multi-sensory experience.

On October 19th, 2020 Terán, Vogl, Lehman and artist Lorena Salomé were awarded a New Nature R&D grant from the Goethe-Institut Montreal for Symbiosis/Dysbiosis. 

The Jury comprised:

Christina Landbrecht, Program Director, Schering Stiftung: Connecting Art and Science

Marie-Pier Gauthier: Producer, National Film Board of Canada, Montreal Interactive Studio

Paola Santos Coy Licona: Director, Museo Experimental el Eco, Mexico

Project summary: A mixed reality, participatory experience working with AR/VR, bio-sonification modules, suspended tactile interfaces.

Project description:

To create a fully immersive, mixed reality environment that incorporates living mycelium, soft tactile interfaces, AR*, biodata-sonification, VR. 

The primary concept involves creating an experience of the  shared environment by entering Boreal forest, Coastal Rainforest), through macro visuals of microbial life on us, around us in the air, trees, fungi, pollen, pollutants. 

In the mixed reality installation there is the VR world. Visitors entering this installation see large macro versions (tactile interfaces) of various organisms present in global air streams (fungal spores), Phytoplankton, as well as real-time data readings of the local air quality, and particulate matter either shown as numerical readings, AR and/or projection mapped onto the tactile interfaces.

The virtual environment is home to microbial and fungal organisms that dwell in dirt, air, water within Canadian Coastal Rainforests, and Boreal forests. How will Human visitors navigate in this world? Humans must pair with various microbial and mycelial life in order to survive, and evolve. The non-Humans might pair with the Visitors, offering help, special abilities or food; they might create illness and disease or not appear at all. Ultimately, it is up to the Humans and how they respond to and within this environment that determines how the non-humans react and respond. Whether the non-Humans choose to pair for Symbiosis, which leads to evolution or Dysbiosis, which can end in a COVID-19 scenario, or worse.

The human body is inhabited by trillions of bacteria, archaea, protists and viruses, and often fungi. Boreal forests, or taiga, represent the largest terrestrial biome. Forests occupy approximately one-third of Earth's land area, account for over two-thirds of the leaf area of land plants, and contain about 70% of carbon present in living things.