
WHERE DOGS RUN: KEROSENE CHRONICLES. FUNGUS
Sodobna umetnost (Aljoša Abrahamsberg),
17. april
― ‘Kerosene fungus’ je tehnofilni organizem, ki živi v rezervoarjih za gorivo in uporablja posledice antropocena kot svojo evolucijsko prednost. Med presnovo gliva spreminja vonj goriva, v katerem se je naselila, kar je izhodišče za modeliranje kemijske komunikacije med bio- in kibernetskimi organizmi. Roboti z živim organizmom uporabljajo vonj, da se med seboj najdejo in gradijo odnose na podlagi podatkov o počutju glive v njih. Kerosene Fungus lives in fuel tanks and feeds on kerosene and diesel. Successfully and abundantly reproducing fungus can lead to the airplane malfunction causing it to crush; it is also able to cause serious damage of the oil infrastructure. Ascomycetae Amorphotheca resinae Parbery (1969) grows on substrates rich in hydrocarbons (creosote, oil, kerosene). In 1960s it was considered one of the most prevalent species feeding on fuel. The fungus turned out to be not only accompanying humans throughout our technological revolutions, but being heavily invested in them, since its evolutionary strategy is based on using the consequences of the anthropocene as an advantage over other bio-agents. During the course of its metabolism the fungus changes smell of the fuel in which it has settled. For us this effect became a starting point for modelling the situation, in which chemical interaction of the fungus and machine creates an opportunity for establishing chemical communication between robots. In this case the kerosine is not only used as a nutritional source for fungus, but also as an additional fuel source for the machine. Each of the four robots is equipped with kerosine tank containing kerosine fungus. The tank’s data (PH-meters, gas analysis, kerosene level) affects robot’s choice of strategy and mode of communication it selects for interacting with others in the group. The modes are: 1. kerosine preservation (escape), active search for fresh kerosine (hunt), 2. exploration (promenade), 3. kerosine excess (altruism), 4. passive wait for changes