Opening Times: 6 – 15 Nov | Tuesday – Saturday (11am – 5pm) | Sunday (11am – 4pm)
Location: Persistence Works (Yorkshire Art Space), 21 Brown St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield, S1 2BS
About the exhibit
Inspired by Dr Tom Paterson, Dr Milena de Felice, Dr Jon Hinchcliffe and Dr Joey Shepherd’s research into the potential use of fungi in neural interfaces, this installation by Ben Carlin and Helen Brook of Second Nature Studio invites you to interact with glowing mycelial structures and explore the fascinating, unexpected connection between fungal conductivity and the human brain.
Podcast
Want to know more about the science behind Mycelial Mind?
In this podcast, Dr Joey Shepherd and artists Ben Carlin and Helen Brook discuss whether fungal networks could one day play a role in neural interfaces and brain machine technology.
They explore how mycelium grows, whether fungal networks can carry electrical signals, and why researchers are interested in creating softer, more flexible ways for technology to interact with the brain.
The conversation also looks at how this early stage research was turned into an interactive artwork for Festival of the Mind.
Episode will release on the 6th November 2026