Mycelium Light Installation
Sharlene Durfey François and Philip François created this project together under the name “Lauschic”
In 2022 the Sacred Ground Festival took place in a forest an hour outside of Berlin –curated by Ry X and Frank Wiedemann.
I was given the opportunity to curate the artists for the festival, as well as create my own immersive experience.
My partner Phili and I had always wanted to create something together. Inspired by mycelium and driven to push ourselves to do something we’d never done before, we made a magical forest hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the festival. We created our first Mycelium light installation. It really felt magical and connective.
Since then, we have contributed to other festivals like Garbicz (Poland) and parties in Berlin like Pinky Promise’s debut event in 2023, Underworld Mycelium’s mushroom drag theater, Berlin Art Week at Mahalla in 2024 (where the installation remains and continues to enchant people) and our most ambitious events were commissioned by Into Another World where our installations spanned 3 rooms and bigger spaces than we’d ever attempted before.
Our intention was to bring the underground mycelium network into a living breathing space where people could feel connection to nature and one another as they experience awe. If feels like the kind of mesmerizing experience you get staring at the ever change flames of a fire, another place where people historically gather together to connect.
What’s it all about?
The installation is most definitely the most impactful to experience in person. Pictures just don’t capture the immersive experience. Their magic doesn’t come through in pictures. I invite you to go to my instagram to look at the videos or better yet, if you get a chance to see it in person, spend some time with them. Immerse yourself. The lights have been programmed to feel like they’re alive, with a subtle pattern that feels organic, as they change colors and fade in and out as if they’re breathing – creating a big part of the magic.
The soundtrack which accompanies the installation is also a big part of the experience. It was composed by Maik Drescher using bioelectric impulses from mushrooms and other electronic as well as other nature sounds. You can hear it by pressing play on the audio link at the top of this page.
The first installation at Sacred Ground had 2.3 km of fiber optics and 60 programmable LEDs. We have since upscaled and I lost count but it’s more than double that.