Located in Michoacan, Mexico, Guapamacàtaro is a site-based and community oriented cultural initiative where artists, scientists, educators and activists converge to foster sustainable development. It is one of the first residencies worldwide to focus on Art and Ecology. Isabelle, Willoughby and their daughter Uma were selected as resident artists in August 2024.
During their month-long residency, they researched the intersection between art and fungi, resulting in a series of new works presented in the context of the Collective Exhibiton.
As a resident at Guapamacátaro, Isabelle focused on a project in experimental perfumery, utilizing inspiration of fungi found around the center to create three scents portraying a sulfurous stinkhorn, an earthy huitlacoche and a lepiotoïd mushroom that smelled of lime and masa harina!
Together with Willoughby Arévalo, they created scent portraits of these same mushrooms, which included aromatic wheels for each fungi, vertical poems based on theirs smell descriptors, and watercolor portraits.
The duo also created a Spanish version of their Aromatic Wheel of Fungi to present to visitors at the Feria del Hongo in Senguio. At the festival, they documented participants’ responses as each person smelled different mushrooms and shared what characteristics or memories came to mind.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
The Art & Fungi Project 