Biosonification: Translating Plant and Fungal Signals into Sound

Biosonification, the process of converting biological information into sound, is increasingly embraced as artists and technologists develop tools to make the sounds of plants, fungi, and other organisms perceptible. Notable early projects include MIDI Sprout and Data Garden (Joe Patitucci and Alex Tyson, early 2010s), which translated plant conductivity into MIDI signals. The Data Garden Quartet created ambient music using living plants, while Scenocosme's Akousmaflore produces tones through leaf interaction. Since 2007, Mileece's Soniferous Eden has generated drones from plants. Marshmallow Laser Feast's Poetics of Soil uncovers fungal networks, and Anecoica's FUNGI resonates with fungal data and local chants. Maya Chowdhry's Fathoming Fungal Frequencies employs electrodes on mushrooms, and Tomás Saraceno's Arachnophilia assigns sounds to spiderwebs. The You:Matter exhibit in the UK (2025) showcases projects that sonify breath and CO2 data, promoting ecological consciousness amidst climate concerns.