Fungi are everywhere. In the ground, at the bottom of the sea, in the air in the form of spores released by mushrooms, and inside of us. They have inhabited the Earth for millennia and are an integral part of our evolution. And just like us, they are diverse.
To talk of fungi is to talk of the collective, about transformation. Creativity comes in handy when attempting to better understand these beings. Right now, for example, mycelial networks far below our feet are communicating like enormous brains, through a huge organic Internet. If it were possible to process their signals, we could learn more about the ecosystem around us.
With every new discovery about the benefits of fungi to both nature and human health, we are reminded that so much is still unknown, and yet already so threatened, either due to changes in land-use and or the climate emergency.
"Symbiosis - The Connection through Fungi" offers a glimpse into the vastness of this universe, demonstrating how the whole impacts us and how our actions have an effect on the whole. Welcome, one and all!
Eduardo Carvalho - Exhibition curator
A space originally dedicated to art and technology, in recent years, Oi Futuro has increasingly connected with scientific and ecological knowledge. Given the very real situation of human impact on the environment – deforestation, fossil fuel extraction, increasing carbon emissions, in addition to global warming – it is vital that we all turn our attention these agendas "yesterday" (in colloquial terms).
A few recent examples of Oi Futuro's support include the exhibitions "Campo Expandido" by Luiz Zerbini, "Museu Imaginário de História Natural da Amazônia" by Luisa Puterman, Bruno Garibaldi, and Gabriel Verçosa, and "O que alimenta a máquina" by Keila Sankofa, Bella, and Nina Corti. Not to mention national programs such as "Labsonora", a project in partnership with the Pará festival Se Rasgum and the Amazonian Labverde residency. Another example is "Cultura Circular", a platform to promote artistic creations developed in partnership with the British Council, which hosts discussions and reflections on possible ways to tackle climate issues.
Developed by the experience studio Deeplab, "Symbiosis - The Connection through Fungi" is another action geared toward raising awareness through art. Through an immersive multimedia journey, "Symbiosis" seeks to foster understanding around these formidable organisms that, among countless benefits to the ecosystem, are our direct allies in tackling the climate crisis. "Symbiosis" is about connections and reciprocity, proposing a new way of existing in the world. Because, as musician Lucas Santtana sings on his latest album, "Paradise is already here".