Psychobotany and the Collaborative Magic of Art, Tech, and Nature

Presented by Aaron Gach of the Center for Tactical Magic

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How do transdisciplinary collaborations between art, tech, and nature address current social, political, and aesthetic issues?  Although most botanical research is focused on genetic modification, pharmaceuticals, and industrial or military applications, artists continue to examine the nature of consciousness and the consciousness of nature. Ranging from Moses’ consultation with a burning bush to the Pentagon’s development of “sentinel plants” this interactive presentation will additionally highlight various approaches to plant communication, law enforcement efforts at plant interrogation, current dilemmas with today’s telecommunications industries, and the growth potential for future collaborative ventures between artists and the plant kingdom.  Audience members will also participate in a live demonstration of extra-sensory perception mediated through the cooperation of living plants in an artistic collaboration that will not likely end up as an NFT but may yet have value in bringing our collective desires for global prosperity to fruition.

Inspired by studies with a private investigator, a magician, and a ninja, the Center for Tactical Magic was established by Aaron Gach in 2000. This collaborative authoring framework is dedicated to the coalescence of art, magic, and creative tactics for encouraging positive social change. Although the collaborations take many different forms, the work is largely the result of creative partnerships with a wide array of individuals and organizations, including hypnotists, biologists, engineers, activists, nurses, military intelligence officers, journalists, radical ecologists, former bank robbers, security experts, street vendors, community organizers, and many others. CTM projects have been presented by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art; Hayward Gallery, London; Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Vigo, Spain; Deutsches Theater, Berlin; and a major public commission for the City of Toronto.