Mycosphere 3.0: Lab

Agata Polak’s diploma project, titled “Mycosphere 3.0,” was an artistic and scientific reflection on contemporary techno-capitalism and the evolution of the Internet – from its decentralized, ethical beginnings to the commercial dominance of Big Tech.

Starting with a critique of the 1991 deregulation of the web, which undermined Tim Berners-Lee’s original vision, Polak proposed an alternative vision of Web 3.0, inspired by queer ecology and mycorrhizal networks, where fungal mycelium acted as a real, cooperative agent.

The project was based in the Mycolab laboratory, where the artist spent several months cultivating mushrooms and conducting bioacoustic experiments. Sound installations, created in collaboration with the mycelium, made it possible to hear its electrical signals and generate shared compositions using Arduino, forming what she called Mushnet – a speculative, ethical communication network.

The project also blended surveillance aesthetics (CCTV, red lighting) with a critical reflection on technological control and the role of creators in a technologized world.

Polak’s use of biomaterials and a DIY approach challenged prevailing norms of technological exploitation. In her vision, art became a testing ground for a future in which humans, technology, and nature form relationships based on partnership, collaboration, and responsibility.