From its earliest planning, the team integrated lion’s mane mushrooms as a literal and metaphorical link to interconnectivity. Supported by The Arts Council Northern Ireland, the project brought together composer Rory Friers and Boom Clap Play to showcase how subtle movements and organic biodata could inform both visual and sonic elements. Developed in Unity, the exhibit employs point cloud-style particle effects and a procedural audio engine to create reactive digital landscapes. Depth sensors track participant gestures, translating them into dynamic visuals while the mushrooms’ electrical signals feed additional cues into the sound design.

The inaugural showing took place at Sonorities, a biannual Sonic Arts Festival in Belfast, in a repurposed factory hall. Three tall projection screens stood amid a carefully staged environment, including mulch spread across the floor to evoke an earthy atmosphere. Each screen featured its own depth sensor, capturing visitors’ movements and weaving them into evolving, layered music. Nearby, a custom plinth housed living lion’s mane specimens fitted with PlantWave sensors that converted their biodata into tonal shifts and sporadic vocal textures. As attendees moved through the space, they encountered an immersive tapestry of swirling visuals, ambient chords, and fleeting echoes that felt both natural and otherworldly.

Following a positive reception at Sonorities, Holonic Fields was reformatted for a second presentation at the Ulster Museum—a dream cultural venue for the team that came with its own technical and practical constraints. While live organic material was not permitted, the exhibit was adapted to the museum’s wide-screen AV setting, retaining its core emphasis on body tracking and generative audio. This new iteration introduced the work to over a thousand audience members. Even without physical mushrooms, the piece preserved its atmospheric depth and sense of discovery, validating the concept’s flexibility across different environments.

Holonic Fields illustrated the power of harnessing real-world data—from human gestures to fungal signals—to create immersive artistic experiences. The adaptability required at each location underlined how thoughtful design and modular systems can accommodate varied constraints without losing creative impact.

By intertwining nature, technology, and audiovisual storytelling, Holonic Fields continues to expand ideas of what interactive installations can achieve. Its journey through Sonorities and the Ulster Museum underscored the potential for such interdisciplinary work to engage audiences across diverse settings, suggesting exciting avenues for future exploration.