Unit 1
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Process
--- MycoDea's Journey from Forest Foray to Artistic Exploration ---
In our creative process, we ventured into the forest to collect mushrooms, aiming to portray a new ecosystem artistically. Nevertheless, we saw that upon introducing the mushrooms to the human environment, they rapidly deteriorated, leading us to contemplate the possible unforeseen repercussions of our actions. This prompted us to consider the influence of human behavior on mushrooms. In response, we shifted our initial intentions and sought to preserve these mushrooms in an alternative, non-intrusive form digitally.
We aimed to achieve digital immortality for these mushrooms through 3D scanning, AI generation, and various 3D software tools."
--- AI mushroom fairies ---
The extensive historical significance of mushrooms in folklore and mythology deeply influences us. The enchanting and esoteric nature of European occult magic, which attributed mushrooms with a connection to mythical beings like fairies and elves, particularly the renowned fairy circle depicted in European folklore, along with the Slavic cultures' deity associated with mushrooms, served as the inspiration behind the development of our AI fungal fairies. Our AI creation was inspired by the exhibition "CULTUS." For more information, see the exhibit "CULTUS."
We continuously attempt to create 'AI mushroom fairies' using Midjourney to achieve a more flawless visual representation.
--- Video-making Process ---
Through the study of mushroom culture folklore and ancient rituals, we envision sharing sacred teachings through artificially Ai fungi fairies to achieve virtual immortality, exploring beliefs, fantasies, symbiosis, and non-human sensory experiences inspired by the realm of fungi, and guiding participants through contemplative rituals.
Ultimately, we chose four AI Mushroom Fairies as the characters for the video.
Prompt --- mushroom fairy, futuristic contraptions, conceptual art, high fashion, dreamlike imagery, dreamlike imagery, Y2K, conceptual
--- Poetry ---
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that a group of scientists in the United Kingdom carried out electrophysiological investigations on four distinct mushroom species. The results showed that mushrooms may be able to talk. So, we created poetry to convey our concept.
Using ChatGPT, we participated in a process of co-editing and revision. Mycelium, fairy rings, totems, lightning, heavenly food, and symbiotic connections are some of the themes in this poem's content. The purpose of this poem is to investigate the interactions that occur between species in the natural, plant, and human worlds.
The Mushroom God, with wisdom to adorn,
A guardian of life, in forests profound.
From sacred totems, carved in ancient wood,
Her presence felt, a force that weaves,
Through fairy rings, pathways understood,
Living beings gather where magic breathes.
Each totem bore a message to convey,
Symbols etched in stone, a sacred code,
Whispering tales of nature's gentle sway,
A tapestry of life this deity bestowed.
As lightning split the sky, fury unleashed,
The earth shook with anger, raining tears,
As the totems cracked and yielded their might,
In a blazing tempest, shifting spheres,
Nature's wrath claimed what was once sheer delight.
May the resonance of this parable linger in the ether,
A reverence for wisdom, a dance with equilibrium's tether,
In the ethereal choreography of the Mushroom God's domain,
Together with nature, our spirits embark on a harmonious refrain.
A guardian of life, in forests profound.
From sacred totems, carved in ancient wood,
Her presence felt, a force that weaves,
Through fairy rings, pathways understood,
Living beings gather where magic breathes.
Each totem bore a message to convey,
Symbols etched in stone, a sacred code,
Whispering tales of nature's gentle sway,
A tapestry of life this deity bestowed.
As lightning split the sky, fury unleashed,
The earth shook with anger, raining tears,
As the totems cracked and yielded their might,
In a blazing tempest, shifting spheres,
Nature's wrath claimed what was once sheer delight.
May the resonance of this parable linger in the ether,
A reverence for wisdom, a dance with equilibrium's tether,
In the ethereal choreography of the Mushroom God's domain,
Together with nature, our spirits embark on a harmonious refrain.
--- Imaging Experiment ---
We assigned the four parts of the poem to the four "Mushroom Fairies." The conversion from photos to videos was done using SadTalker. This Kaiyuan website generates videos by inputting audio for facial recognition.
We tried to use Deforum Stable Diffusion to process the images taken in the forest to present a better visual effect. We made the video effect look like the growth of mycelium.
--- AI music generation ---
We used Stable Audio and Mubert to generate soulful music for a better audio-visual presentation.
--- Material testing ---
We acquired acetone and promptly administered it to the foam boards, resulting in a rapid corrosive reaction that emulates the degrading characteristics of fungi on organic substances. Following the application of acetone, the foam boards underwent a notable change in texture, becoming adhesive and resembling the structure of mycelium.
--- Conductive Touch Board ---
Following an intriguing lecture on "animism and emotions" delivered by our tutor Max, we were inspired to include naked conductive touch screens in our artwork. Through the incorporation of an interactive encounter, our objective is to provoke sensory stimulation and augment the bond between humanity and the natural world, mostly via tactile and auditory means.