Interwoven worlds

Fungi sprout at unpredictable times and in unpredictable places. They are known to intervene in areas of life built by humans: they cause buildings to collapse, remove environmental pollution or are used as remedies. Fungi are connected by hidden underground networks of life - so-called mycelia, thread-like, nutrient-containing structures that can unfold into a huge, complex network. These mycelia communicate with each other via electrical impulses - a property that they in turn share with computer networks.

"Interwoven Worlds" enables chatbots to get in touch with the mycelia that are invisible to us. With the help of trained artificial intelligence, a unique language is created for the mushrooms that expresses their diverse characteristics.
The production guides the audience through an interactive and immersive experience that searches for a common language between humans and mycelia. It explores the cycle of an ecosystem, the process of decomposition and renewal, and the importance of one's own human role in the larger ecosystem.

CONCEPT & DIRECTION & TECHNOLOGICAL DRAMATURGY & PRODUCTION Kristina Malyseva
DRAMATURGY Katrin Brehm
IT & SOFTWAREbr /> IT & SOFTWARE Benedikt Mildenberger
VISUAL ARTIST & SCENOGRAPH Kaustav Majumdar
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Jonas Rottmüller
OUTSIDE EYE Jochen Kiefer
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT FOR ACOUSTICS ILMENAU Christoph Sladeczek
TONING ENGINEER FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT ILMENAU Joshua Hagedorn

Videostill ©Kristina Malyseva

COPRODUCTION Kulturhaus Helferei Zurich.

Supported by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology Ilmenau and by funds from the Zurich University of the Arts /ZHdK.