Fungi Cosmology (3/3): A question of perspective

In this episode, the artists Jorgge Menna Barreto (BRA) and Maya Minder (CH), the scientists Martina Peter (CH) and Patricia Silva Flores (CHI) and the curators Lilian Fraiji (BRA) and Irène Hediger (CH) look back on their joint research in the Amazon. The artists and scientists describe how their perspective on the forest and fungi has changed due to the use of the approaches from each other's discipline. The curators share their expectations for the upcoming field trips and reflect on the potential outcome of the project.

In her work, scientist Martina Peter (CH) explores the symbiotic interaction between forest trees and fungi, the so-called ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. She studies the neutral and functional diversities of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their role in forest ecosystems in a changing environment.

Patricia Silva Flores (CHI) is a fungal and mycorrhizal ecologist and currently an Assistant Professor at the Universidad Católica del Maule in Talca, Chile. Her work focuses on mycorrhizal ecology research, student formation in this field, and scientific outreach, particularly in fungal and mycorrhizal science.

Jorgge Menna Barreto, Ph.D. (BRA) is an artist and educator, whose practice and research have been dedicated to site-specific art for over 20 years. He approaches site-specificity from a critical and South American perspective, having taught, lectured, and written extensively on the subject.

Maya Minder (CH) is an artist, curator and chef working in the field of Eatart. She uses storytelling, performance and installation as a way to unite people around a table. As a specialist in lacto-fermentation, she works with bacteria, fungi, plants, and algae and applies biological knowledge to her culinary and artistic creation.

Lilian Fraiji (BRA) is a curator and producer based in Manaus, Brazil. She is the co-founder of Labverde, a platform dedicated to developing multidisciplinary content involving art, science and ecology.

Irène Hediger (CH) is the Head of the artists-in-labs program (AIL), Department of Cultural Analysis at the Zurich University of the Arts. She curates and promotes inter- and transdisciplinary exchange and practices at the interface of art, science and technology in the fields of environmental science, astrophysics, biology, neuroscience and medicine.

About Fungi Cosmology:

Fungi Cosmology is a long-term project revolving around the fungi kingdom and fostering the dialogue between art and science. Bringing together science and arts professionals from Brazil, Chile, and Switzerland, the research includes lectures, workshops, and expeditions, in Manaus (Brazil), Tierra del Fuego (Chile), and the Alps (Switzerland).

Fungi Cosmology is a project co-created by LabVerde (BRA), CAB Patagonia (CHI), artists-in-labs program (CH), and foodculturedays (CH).

Curators: Lilian Fraiji (BRA), María Luisa Murillo (CHI), Irène Hediger (CH) and Margaux Schwab (CH).

Artists: Jorgge Menna Barreto (BRA), Maya Minder (CH), Seba Calfuqueo (CHI), Valentina Serrati (CHI)

Scientists: Juli Simon (BRA), Patricia Silva Flores (CHI), Martina Peter (CH), Benjamin Dauphin (CH)

Please note: When this episode was recorded, only the first of three field trips (Brazilian Amazon, March 2023) had been completed. It was followed by a field trip to Chilean Patagonia in March 2024, and a final field trip in the second half of 2024 to Vevey (Switzerland).