Ritual Device for Fungal Humus at Ars Electronica 2025
We are thrilled to announce that the project “Ritual Device for Fungal Humus” by Santiago Morilla was featured in the official section PANIC: Complex. Absurd. Ominous at Ars Electronica 2025 (Linz, Austria).
The piece highlights a key collaboration with researcher Joaku De Sotavento, whose work at i_mBODY Lab (UC3M) influenced the technical and conceptual development of the installation. By integrating biosensors and sound synthesis, the device translates the metabolic activity of fungi into an immersive experience, exploring new forms of multispecies empathy through interactive technology. This work represents a successful case of knowledge transfer from our lab’s research to the international media arts scene.
Credits:
Concept and Art Direction: Santiago Morilla.
Production: Created within the residency program of the Tilling Roots and Seeds project, in collaboration with Ferrer Sustainability, Tectum Garden, Món Sant Benet – Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, and Fundación Contorno Urbano.
Support: Quo Artis Foundation, Dept. of Culture of the Government of Catalonia, and Barcelona City Council.
Physical Computing, Interactive Design and Software Development: Joaku de Sotavento & Fernando Fernández.
Music, Field Recordings and Soundscape Design: Santiago Morilla and Joaku de Sotavento (with the special vocal collaboration of Coco Moya).
Hardware Design and Construction: Santiago Morilla, Olly Needham and Nicholas Burridge.
Fungi Suppliers (collaborators): Fungi Natur (Santolaya de Cabranes).
Academic Support: Research group arte-conocimiento.com (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) and i_mBODY Lab (UC3M).