From the Ground / Lost in Synthetic
Exploring the Interaction Between Ecology, Culture, and CapitalismImmersive Short Film
Technical Support by Wendy
Royal College of Art
From the Ground / Lost in Synthetic is an immersive short film, exploring the interaction between ecology, culture, and capitalism. Through Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), to tells a story of how things are torn from their lifeworlds to become objects of exchange in the commercialisation logic of capitalism. Lingzhi mushrooms have transitioned from being ancient, mysterious, and elusive herbs to products mass-produced in agricultural greenhouses. They have severed from the natural world and further evolved into various commodities traded within the supply chain.
Based on modern contexts, the project rewrites myths, evoking a critical reflection on materials/species and the understanding that a (bio)material is never just a material. It has a spirit and is, or has been, alive. It's part of larger ecosystems, bodies, histories, cultures, and traditions.
Premieres and exhibited at Outernet London 2024
