Oct 07 2024 14 mins
In this episode, several participants of the project ‘Fungi Cosmology’ - scientists Martina Peter (CH) and Patricia Silva Flores (CHI) and the artists Jorgge Menna Barreto (BRA) and Maya Minder (CH) - recall their experience during their field trip to the Brazilian Amazon. From 13 to 23 March 2023, the group visited Manaus (Amazonas) and entered the forest via trails and boat trips to explore the main ecosystems of the region: Igapó, Terra Firme, and Várzea.
In her work, scientist Martina Peter (CH) explores the symbiotic interaction between forest trees and fungi, the so-called ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. She studies the neutral and functional diversities of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their role in forest ecosystems in a changing environment.
Patricia Silva Flores (CHI) is a fungal and mycorrhizal ecologist and currently an Assistant Professor at the Universidad Católica del Maule in Talca, Chile. Her work focuses on mycorrhizal ecology research, student formation in this field, and scientific outreach, particularly in fungal and mycorrhizal science.
Jorgge Menna Barreto, Ph.D. (BRA) is an artist and educator, whose practice and research have been dedicated to site-specific art for over 20 years. He approaches site-specificity from a critical and South American perspective, having taught, lectured, and written extensively on the subject.
Maya Minder (CH) is an artist, curator and chef working in the field of Eatart. She uses storytelling, performance and installation as a way to unite people around a table. As a specialist in lacto-fermentation, she works with bacteria, fungi, plants, and algae and applies biological knowledge to her culinary and artistic creation.
About Fungi Cosmology:
Fungi Cosmology is a long-term project revolving around the fungi kingdom and fostering the dialogue between art and science. Bringing together science and arts professionals from Brazil, Chile, and Switzerland, the research includes lectures, workshops, and expeditions, in Manaus (Brazil), Tierra del Fuego (Chile), and the Alps (Switzerland).
Fungi Cosmology is a project co-created by LabVerde (BRA), CAB Patagonia (CHI), artists-in-labs program (CH), and foodculturedays (CH).
Curators: Lilian Fraiji (BRA), María Luisa Murillo (CHI), Irène Hediger (CH) and Margaux Schwab (CH).
Artists: Jorgge Menna Barreto (BRA), Maya Minder (CH), Seba Calfuqueo (CHI), Valentina Serrati (CHI)
Scientists: Juli Simon (BRA), Patricia Silva Flores (CHI), Martina Peter (CH), Benjamin Dauphin (CH)
Please note: When this episode was recorded, only the first of three field trips (Brazilian Amazon, March 2023) had been completed. It was followed by a field trip to Chilean Patagonia in March 2024, and a final field trip in the second half of 2024 to Vevey (Switzerland).