Being hyphaenated (Ser hifanizado)

Cesar & Lois

Being hyphaenated (Ser hifanizado) is an artwork-as-ecosystem that performs complex interactions between the planet’s living beings. Hyphae references the mycelial filaments that fungi use to communicate. In nature, fungi connect with each other and with other species through signaling sent by their hyphae. The sculpture comprises an array of living beings, each host to microorganisms which are connected to each other through respiration and are mediated by sensing technology.

A vessel of water generates humidity in response to the CO2 produced by fungi and viewers, triggering changes in bioelectric signaling within each cocoon. Embedded lights pulse in response to these changes, while an artificial intelligence studies the bioelectric signals from each organism and looks for emergent behavior patterns, as the basis for an AI. The sculpture is comprised of an array of living organisms, each host to microorganisms which are connected to each other through respiration, mediated by sensing technology. Each specimen includes mycorrhiza, the subject of the Treseder Lab, where Cesar & Lois studied fungi's respiratory relationship to the planet—and the importance of humidity to that respiration.

Within the sculpture, a central vessel of water generates humidity in response to CO2 produced by fungi and by viewers. Embedded lights oscillate according to the bioelectric signaling of the organisms. The cadence of these signals shifts in response to the environment, including to changes in CO2. On a horizontal screen, an artificial intelligence studies the bioelectric pulses from each organism, looking for emergent behavior patterns within the complex array of signaling.

Project Collaborators:

Being hyphaenated (Ser hifanizado) is an artwork by Cesar & Lois, a collective comprised of Lucy HG Solomon and Cesar Baio. Being hyphaenated (Ser hifanizado) was made possible with support from the UC Irvine Beall Center for Art + Technology and Getty. Institutional backing includes additional support from CSUSM, UNICAMP and FAPESP (2023/10966-1). C Curator David Familian provided the context for thinking about complex systems in relation to climate, and microorganisms. The Treseder Lab at UC Irvine, which studies fungi’s role in ecosystems and global change, supported the project through research contributions. Oliver George-Brown, Matt Solomon, and Andre Woodward were part of the technical team during installation.