Mushroom Hexapod Playing Instruments

This ambient piece is generated in real time by a living mushroom. Sensors attached to the fruiting body measure subtle bio‑electrical fluctuations, which are translated into MIDI and used to play a keyboard and synth pad inside the mushroom farm. The six bionic arms respond directly to the mushroom’s electrical activity, creating a form of non‑human improvisation. In biology, “hexapod” refers to six‑limbed organisms - the most diverse group of animals on Earth just got a bit bigger. This video was developed for “One Touch of Nature Makes the Whole World Kin”, an exhibition and public program by the School for Curatorial Studies Venice in collaboration with the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia and the P.F. Calvi Secondary School. The work is on view in Venice from April 23 to May 23, 2026.