Merlin Sheldrake's Book on Fungi Inspires Artists from Cage to Höller

Merlin Sheldrake's book 'L'ordine nascosto. La vita segreta dei funghi' (Marsilio, 2020) explores the hidden world of fungi, revealing their role as Earth's original networkers. The book has captivated artists including John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Carsten Höller, AES+F, James Cameron, and Iris van Herpen. Sheldrake, a researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, explains that fungi are not plants but a separate kingdom, with mycelium forming underground networks that connect 90% of plants. He traces plant evolution to fungal symbiosis 500 million years ago. The book also discusses lichens, which Darwin studied, and the recent 'Queer Theory' update to his Dual Hypothesis. Sheldrake notes that fungi are everywhere—inside and on human bodies—and challenges the concept of the individual. Artists have responded: Carsten Höller's 'Upside Down Mushroom Room' (2000) at Fondazione Prada features hallucinogenic Amanita muscaria; AES+F's NFT 'Psychosis Mushroom Field' references fungal symbiosis; Iris van Herpen's haute couture collection drew on Sheldrake's research. John Cage, a mycological expert, won a 1959 TV quiz show on fungi. The book also covers psilocybin's mind-expanding properties and fungi's medical uses, including cyclosporine, statins, and Taxol.