Data translated through art

Project Title: ERRATUM. Micro-design for society

Code: INC-UDIT-2024-PRO16

Research Group: DESIRe (Regenerative Integral Design)

Author: Elsa Gil Benito

On 21 May 2024, the doctoral student Elsa Gil, whose doctoral thesis "Micomaterials, meaning and significance in the new material culture, for its projection in art and design" is developed within the DESIRe Research Group, presented the results of her research in poster format at the International Congress of Fine Arts, CIBA IV, at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Complutense University of Madrid. The congress was organised on 21 and 22 May 2024. The archive can be consulted in the repository of both universities.

Promoting the use and acceptance of mycomaterials requires endowing the material with a positive semantic value (Rigobello et al. 2022). In addition to its biodegradability and remarkable lightness, mycelium stands out for a paradigm shift in aesthetics, where dynamism and imperfection are desired characteristics (Rognoli and Karana 2014). Moreover, by following practices such as "Growing Design", its potential, emotional connection, natural aesthetics, as well as providing a functional product with its own unique identity can be promoted (Parisi et al. 2016).

The research started from the elaboration of a list of nouns and adjectives, based on those generated by the main reference authors (Lenzi et al., 2022) in order to find a suitable lexicon for the effective and powerful qualification of micomaterials among society. These concepts were presented in map format to the participants of the Focus Groups conducted, so that they could fill them in freely. Up to 61 words were presented, organised according to levels of perception: interpretative, affective and sensory.

In order to visualise the results in a more visual, emotive and artistic way, the data were coded according to the levels: interpretative, sensory and affective. The codes were selected in relation to the participants' interactions with the mycomaterials, with the aim of seeking objectivity within the subjectivity of emotions.

The result of the analysis and translation was the creation of a collection of graphic and speculative "beings" that represent the different perceptions collected in the form of diagrams. The poster presented here is a collection of these representations of scientific data through art.

In the joint comparison, it could be observed that each profession categorised mycomaterials quite differently. However, they all share concepts such as handmade, natural, unpredictable and serene (interpretative); light and silent (sensory); and curiosity and wonder (affective). The rest of the adjectives vary according to creativity, interaction with other organic or manual materials, and aesthetics. It is worth noting the dichotomy in each "being" due to the novelty of the material. Adjectives such as serene and unpredictable, calm and stimulating define the material (the former) and the interaction that each participant had (the latter). Each "being" aims to reflect, through images, the sensations and evocations that the mycomaterials generated in each group of participants.

• Poster presented by Elsa Gil Benito at the CIBA IV Congress, translating quantitative results into speculative diagrams through art.