zoe

A co-existence between mushrooms and a robotic system by Noor Stenfert Kroese and Amir Bastan

6 - 10 September 2023
Ars Electronica Festival
Post City
4020 Linz

ZOE is a temporary co-existence between reishi mushrooms and a custom-made robotic system. Noor Stenfert Kroese and Amir Bastan explore with ZOE the possibilities of internal communication between a robotic system and reishi. Within this seeming paradox between nature and technology, an ecosystem occurs that cares for and affects the other through sensing technologies. It continues onto the research of the interaction and unknown communication within fungal mycelia networks.

ZOE uses sensors to collect data from the environment as well as the mycelium of the reishi. It uses this data to create the internal communication between the reishi and the robotic system. The reishi and their behavior defines what the robotic system does and the robotic system influences the shape of the light-sensitive reishi mushrooms. Over time this influence sculpts the shape of the fruiting bodies of the reishi as a reflection of their ecosystem. The data is used in the space to create a sensory experience for exploring this unknown communication. Finally, the data-carpets are created from the daily collected data from reishi in relation to their environment to see if we could experience any correlation between them. These tactile data visualizations explore the outcome and the unknown communication going on in this temporary co-existence. Are we able to tune in on these different rhythms of all of the parts involved, and what are we in a space that is with, but not about us?