Mushroom Art with Irene Antonez
Alisa Nappa
Irene Antonez is an artist and musician based in Prague, who specializes in bio art and botanical/mycological illustration, particularly focusing on fungi and microorganisms. Irene's work is heavily influenced by her microscopic research of fungi, mushroom hunting, ethnomycology, ethnobotany, antique scientific illustration books, and her family's deep fascination with mushrooms. Utilizing a microscope, she delves into the hidden world of minuscule organisms that are often overlooked. Her work has been featured in exhibitions in Prague and internationally.
You can find more of Irene's work here:
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TRANSCRIPT
Unknown Speaker 0:00 Alex, Alex 0:12 welcome, welcome. You are listening to the mushroom revival podcast. Is your host, Alex Dorr, and we are absolutely obsessed with the wonderful, wacky world of mushrooms and fungi, we bring on guests and experts from all around the globe to geek out with us and go down a rabbit hole to try to figure out what the heck is going on with these wacky, mysterious beings of the fungal world, and today we have is it eating Eden? Irene. Irene. Irene, to talk about mushroom art, and you make some amazing, very psychedelic art and and I'm just really curious to to hear about your background, your your inspirations, and all that you do. So for people that don't know you and your art. Who are you? What are you up to? Speaker 1 1:05 Well, hello everyone, and thank you for having me. I'm super excited. So I'm a multimedia artist based in Prague, Czech Republic. I'm also an art educator and musician, and I work on a lot of projects, but let me like try to say it short Well, I create this surreal, psychedelic looking, but also like botanical and mycological art based on like mushroom worlds and plant Worlds. And I'm very much inspired by mycology, mycology, mycological literature. I love looking at mushrooms under microscope, and I do some microscopic research to to get inspired for my paintings. Some of the topics that interest me are like this interconnectedness of all things in nature. I also love to celebrate small beings. I love to bring these tiny organisms on a big scale, because I believe they are super important for for the humanity, for the planet. And yeah, I believe that, like every living thing, doesn't matter which size has a spirit or a soul, if you will. And it, it is like alive. And I'm very much interested in connecting with all of these living beings and, and, yeah, celebrating nature and, and maybe one more thing that is important in my artwork is that I I also am very much connected to mushrooms for my family history, but we might talk about it a bit more later. And like basically, some of the things that I do is I exhibit around Czech Republic and internationally. I do custom art for mushroom and plant related companies. I teach art. For example, we paint mushrooms, we learn about microscopic art. I do some animations. I participate in festivals like psychedelic fests, nature related fests. Do some art lectures, and I do some murals. I try to do them all around the world when it's possible. And yeah, that that would be it. Alex 3:29 So I'm curious about your upbringing. I heard that your whole family is our mushroom fanatics, and they go crazy for mushrooms. What? What? What inspired them to get into mushrooms? How was it like growing up? Do you have any memorable moments of going out with your family to look for mushrooms? How did this journey all start for you? Speaker 1 3:52 Yeah, so that's a good question, and I guess, like, I don't know when was that point when it all started because coming from Slavic family, I guess it's like, we were born this way, and I don't even know who started that, but we were like from early times. We were all interested in mushrooms. And I am like Russian Ukrainian. I was born in Russia and lived, like most of my life, until, like, adult age there, and then I traveled a lot. But as I was born there, and I spent a lot of time with my family, and all of this time is was like in nature and well, my parents, they gave me so much knowledge about mushrooms and plants and berries, and how to pick certain things and how to avoid certain things. And we would always go for this mushroom hunting walks, and it would be like, basically it was one of the first things that I learned, like I was not speaking properly. But I already knew, like how to find a certain mushroom and how to identify it, and it would be this fun kind of game between me and my parents that we would compete who will find more mushrooms, and we would get so excited about it. And as a child, you can imagine how cool is that? Because you have, like, you have such a clear mind, and it just comes so easily to you this kind of play. And so we would like spend hours in nature, and I would spend, like, summers also in our village house, where we would go all the time to pick pick up things and well, one of the fun experiences, I guess, is, for example, once we went to this forest with my mom when I was staying for a summer in in our village place, and we found this like field, I guess there was a rain just like a few days before, and we found this field, which was like, I don't know, maybe like 20 meters altogether, but it was like, full of bullets, and it was just we wouldn't even have to walk like it would every step you would find, like a family of bullets. And for me, it was so exciting, because, like, I was like, Oh, they're everywhere. And we would, like, in five minutes, our baskets were full. And my mom got, like, irritated that it was just like, there was no walk, no nothing. We would just have to, like, all the time work out. Too easy, yeah, but, but I was, like, absolutely excited. I was jumping from one bully to another, and, and, yeah, stories like that. There were so many of these stories. My parents all have stories to tell about their mushroom. You know, their mushroom stories like my father has his own story that he likes to, likes to tell to everyone, and it's just like, it's, it's one of our favorite topics. And also, like growing up, I became interested in my like family history and visiting my family. Back home a few years ago, I dived into a Family Library, and so I discovered that we have so many encyclopedias of like these mushrooms, some of them were German, some of them Czech, and some of them Russian. And I would like, collect all of them and just dive into them. And it was so fascinating for me, as I was a late child, and I like, I didn't, almost didn't meet anyone, like, except my parents, because I was born like when my mom was almost 40. So basically I could only learn from from that, right? And I, I saw, you know, these photographs also of my grandfather, and he was, well, he was a professor of mathematics, but he loved mushrooms, and he would like, like, learn all about them, and, and there is a photograph of him winning a mushroom competition, for example. And that's awesome, yeah, so exciting to see. Then going into, like, some old letters of our family, I found this album that one of my, like, grand, grand grand fathers was painting these amateur mushrooms. And that was like, even Wow, even more fascinating. And yeah, just kind of figured out it's in my DNA, and it made more sense to me why I am so excited about Shange Alex 8:49 and also music and art. I mean, you just said was your great, great grandpa who is, yeah, I think I heard in interviews something like, your mom is a musician or an artist, and your dad is the other one, right? Speaker 1 9:07 It's on the contrary. But, yeah, yeah. So basically, my father got, like, well, he's a programmer, but he was very much into music. He did the music school, and I think they and my mom was, she's like, she was doing a lot of art, but none of them made it into like, profession. It was, like, more like a hobby, but they were into this, yeah, so thanks to them, I guess, Alex 9:35 yeah, yeah, and yeah. I actually didn't know that you're a musician until last night, I was doing research on you. I was like, Oh, you're an incredible musician as well. And, yeah, it's so cool. I love hearing stories of families that keep traditions and interests. I'm kind of a black sheep in my family, like no one is into the rooms. And. Yeah, I'm very different from everyone in my extended family. And, yeah, there's very, very limited things that I've taken from, from, yeah, from my from my family, and I've definitely kind of forged my own path. And it's, it's really inspiring to hear other people who, yeah, kind of have this really close relationship with their extended family, and they keep traditions alive for multi generations. Is really, really great. I'm curious. I don't have kids, but I do want kids, and I'm curious. Like, you know, I would love to go mushroom hunting with my kid, but, you know, yeah, I don't want to, I don't want to force them into anything like they're their own human but I kind of hope that they get really into mushrooms in nature when they grow up. And yeah, I can, I can help hold their hand, you know, and and kind of push them in, I don't want to say the right direction, but I would, I would love to have a connection with nature, with my kids, and, yeah, it's really amazing that that you do with your family, and had, like, such an amazing childhood. And it sounds like they did as well, and their their parents, parents and and it goes on and on. So that's really, really cool. Speaker 1 11:16 I was lucky. I was very lucky. And I'm sure that you will do really good, like you will be amazing guide for your children, because, you know, mushrooms are all about play. They teach us all about play and laugh and experimenting and being free. So you will, you will like easily. I think, pass that to your to your children. I'm Alex 11:38 so I'm curious. I heard in I think I read an article, then listened to an interview about you, said a couple times that you there was like a big taboo around psychedelic mushrooms when you're a kid. And then I think when you moved it wasn't until recently that you're like, oh, Anita, psilocybin, like, these things aren't deadly poisonous, you know. So I'm just curious around that story. Like, was it your parents telling you that? Was it more of a cultural thing, more society with like, legality or like, what? How did that taboo evolve over time? So, Speaker 1 12:23 yeah, all of it that you mentioned played, I guess, a role together, an event, all the way like 360 degree, way from like being complete taboo and not even like anything that would involve a word, a word drugs or, like, yeah, psychedelics, but it wasn't even a thing to discuss. Like, I didn't discuss that with my family, because it was not something that you discuss. Like, it's it was a taboo, as you said, it's the best word to describe it, and of course, the legal part of it does not help and, and, of course, there is no education about that so, and no one would be able to give it to me, because no one, even, even if someone tries psychedelic mushrooms, they wouldn't like Go and tell people. Of course, it would be, like, a secret kind of thing. And I do actually, like, I did ask, like, some of my close people about that, and I know that some of very close people that I know that they were having these experiences, and I was told very negative things, like a very bad things, and and I was super confused, because at the same time I was like having my first experiences with, you know, Magic World of mushrooms. And I was just so confused because I had such a fascinating, you know, discoveries and, and all these insights. And I did not feel any like anything of what they described. And only later I figured out that it, it was just a simple thing of set and settings that that is like, so important and basic to know. And of course, they did it in all the wrong in, like, all the wrong possible ways. And of course, they had these negative experiences. And of course they will tell everyone not to, not to try that. So it's, it's all about research and taking it carefully, and, and, yeah, just being, being very mindful of what you're doing and and making your research, yeah, but, but yeah, coming back to what you said, I went all the way from denying any kind of drugs to like, to then being a crazy one, like amazed one, yeah, and then, and now. I am, I think I am at the stage of, like, accepting everyone as they are. And I believe that these, you know, medicines, come to our life just at the right time and when we need them, and everyone is able to decide for themselves. Like, if people ask me, I can share, but I, I'm not, you know, a prophet to integrate, to go into the crowds and scream about it. It's really up to everyone and and I only wish there would be better education in that field, like my How amazing would it be if we had, if we had a class in schools just saying simple things and sharing and things like that? Alex 15:47 Yeah, have you? Have you had a chance to talk with your parents since about psilocybin or Amanita or or are you kind of avoiding that conversation. Speaker 1 16:03 It's my dream. Like I would, I would really love, love, love to do that. But even like coming a little bit closer, I could feel that it's just they are not, not able to, like, hold the conversation, like, calmly. So I Yeah, yeah. It's just, Alex 16:21 it's, well, at least they love all other mushrooms, which is amazing in and of itself. So that's awesome. You could, you could always forge beliefs with them, and absolutely that, in and of itself, is insanely magical. So, yeah, I would. So I'm, I'm curious, you were talking a little bit in the beginning about your inspirations for your art, and you briefly touched upon microscopy, and right, you know, your family lineage, and so what can you kind of dive deeper on? What are your biggest inspirations for your art? Because it your art. It's very unique, very psychedelic, almost, Dr Seuss vibes. I mean, it's mixed with, kind of, like, old style botanical art. I mean, it's, it's very unique. So I'm just curious, like, what are your biggest inspirations? Speaker 1 17:11 Yeah, well, to to prevent all the questions about my mushrooms, it's not really like based on that, like, what, what you might see like on my page, on my website and so on, is, is something that I have in my head. And like, magic mushrooms is a separate topic that I more use, like a healing practice and therapy and so on. And so I some of my inspirations are, of course, foraging, like just spending time with the mushrooms and the plants and just learning from them. And maybe this is something that I took from, like a psychedelic kind of experiences. Is that just to be with something and to commune a little bit with the nature. And I think, like, I have this kind of flash flashbacks, or I don't know how to call it, but sometimes when I'm in nature, I can, like, feel that there is a deeper level now of that connection to a plant or a mushroom, and just sketching them is is a big thing for me, just sketching in nature, another thing is important and inspiring as a community. I think it's such a huge thing, especially for people who are like, loving the mushroom world, it's such a niche and such a narrow field, and it's so important to like, surround yourself with people who don't think you're weird in a better way, and who are like, supporting and cheering you up and just like, yeah, having the same passion learning from each other is a big thing. Big inspiration is a microscopic research. As I said, Well, it all started like, maybe, like five years ago when I was getting my first master degree, and I had this project that involved, like, experimentation, kind of thing. And, well, my experimentation was buying a magnifying glass and just going into the forest. And my focus was, at that time, mosses. And, you know, it's also such an amazing object, subject, mosses. And I read a lot about them, and I looked at them under the microscope, and I saw these forests like I saw this, you know, prehistorical kind of nature. And the more I learned, the more I got fascinated. And, well, this time, I also got my first microscope, and I got more serious about it. And I, like, started, you know, just playing with mushrooms growing. Them, or picking up in the forest, bringing back home, exploring them under the microscope. Sometimes I would try them, or, I don't know, do things with them and just play. And yeah, and and then I had, during my second master degree, I had another project that was like art residency. And there I was given, like, an access to this laboratory, basically like this, this huge, amazing microscope. And it just it, was it, that was it. I fell in love. We were like, in this forest in Slovenia. And I would go, like, every morning to forage for mushrooms. I found my first Earth, Earth star mushroom. Oh my gosh. And looking at these micro universes just made me, like, fall in love with the microscopic world. And then, on the like, more philosophical level, if you think of that, I think we can learn so much from this microscopic, you know, exploration, because we become less human centered. And I realize that I am and including all the humanity we are all so anthropocentric, like we are all about ourselves looking at things, and never things looking at us, or like the other way around. And, yeah, and from that time, I became very interested in making small things bigger. And I started like bringing these tiny organisms on big scale to like to show them, you know, because we are not able to see that we need microscope for this, and not everyone has an access to laboratory or proper equipment. And now I'm like teaching this as well, and I'm trying to whenever it's possible, to show people the mushrooms under the microscope, because it's, it's amazing, it's, it's another universe, and we should, you know, be a little bit more humble as humans. Yeah, Alex 22:14 I'm, I ask this question to every single artist that I talk to, but I'm always curious how artists specifically get into Have you heard of the flow state, right? I don't know if that translates, but yeah, I'm I am so fascinated about the flow state, and specifically like how artists, no matter if you're a painter or musician or whatever kind of art you make, like, what are people's kind of practices? Or how do certain artists get into that state where it's almost like they they are not making the art, the art is coming through them, and they're just kind of a vessel for the art to come through. And they're not sitting there with their mind being like, I'm going to do this thing. It just like comes through them in this in this flow state. And I've heard, like writers, they'll go to like a laundromat and try to, you know, just observe interesting characters, and that puts them in a state of just kind of humbling themselves and seeing how interesting the world is. And you were talking about how humbling looking through a microscope can be. But I'm just curious. Like, before you sit down and you paint at a canvas, like, do you have certain things that you do to get you in that state or like, yeah, I've just, yeah, curious if you have a practice or not, Speaker 1 23:45 yeah, yeah. It's, I wish, like, I knew the answer, because it's very random for me, and I just have this very random moments of, like an image coming to my head, or like an idea coming to my head. And it can be achieved for like, a conversation with someone, for example, some really cool person that gives you like some even like, they don't say that I have to paint this, but they say something that, like immediately provokes a picture in my head, or another source is definitely literature I'm super obsessed with, like, books about mushrooms and nature and encyclopedias and so sometimes I'm I'm like, I have very I have many quotes that I save for myself, and some of these quotes are just like, Oh yes, I like he said this. I I cannot say this like they did, but this is what I want to like express with my painting, like a philosophical thought that I want to put into my. Painting and things like that. Or, for example, I don't know, let's say I'm reading about this interconnectedness of things, or mycelium communication. And I'm like, That is like, so amazing. How can I like, How can I express it with, you know, painting and and then I like, maybe sketch a few ideas very quickly, just a few lines and and then it, you know, it stays in my head and on, on the background, doing everyday stuff. I am still thinking of that and maybe developing this idea in my head. And I'm not really, like, in control of it. Honestly, it just comes from some places. Yeah, Alex 25:45 I really like the quotes. My mom told me that when she was younger, she used to put a bunch of inspirational quotes on her mirror her bathroom, and like, mantras and quotes and things like that affirmations, and her mirror was like, covered, yeah. She was like, yeah. Like, your dad used to give me so much shit, like, because he would go to the bathroom and he just the mirror was just covered, and all these sticky notes, and it was and he's like, What are you doing, yeah? But like, yeah. Then she, like, kept getting promoted, and all these beautiful things started happening. And then he was just, like, all right, it's working. Like, keep it, yeah, keep your cover. Like, obviously is doing something. So, yeah, yeah, you can have your mirror. You know, sure, yes, yeah, I'm always, I think that was the that's, you're the first person that has said quotes. I think, like, half of my Instagram feed is all inspirational quotes. I love them. I think they're, yeah, they're really, really good. And like most of my saved images on my phone and like Instagram saved they're either like, beautiful mushroom intake of life is such a good book. Merlin is such a way for sure. Yeah, so how, how do you feel like your journey into my microscopy has expanded over time, and how has it influenced your art? Like, do, Mm, hmm, when, when you are looking at a microscope. In a microscope, how often do you see an image or something, and then you have to rush to your Canvas and you're like, Oh, my God, that so beautiful. Like, I have to paint that. Or do you feel like just looking through a microscope is a big source of of your art inspiration. Speaker 1 27:43 It definitely is in different ways, though, like, I think it is also in, like, a spiritual, philosophical sense. It's it influences a lot of my ideas. It's coming back to that idea of bringing small, celebrating small, and respecting tiny things. I think that is like a super big influence. And then I also, like experiment, I bring microscopic. So when you look at the microscopic picture, you don't see really the mushroom, right? Like you see some kind of different universes, different elements. And it's very abstract, actually. And I'm not an abstract painter, but I I try to experiment with that. I try to, like, have it in my paintings in various ways, maybe as a background, or, let's say, Yeah, mostly as a background, because it's like, so flowing and and so abstract, and so, like, free. And sometimes I do, like, kind of, yeah, colorful interpretation of that. And then on the on the foreground, I would do, like, my realistic, more realistic stuff. And so it's like this, yeah, bringing this, this tiny worlds on a big scale, like, I have some canvases that are like two meter height, and so people, like, if you, if you stand in front of them, you really start to feel something different happening. It's, it's, it's now not about you and something, it's about something and you. So it's something that is looking at you, and it's like taking you into their world. You are the guests. You are the you are invited to, you know, to humbly appreciate these worlds. Alex 29:37 Yeah, so I'm, I'm curious about your more of your process and how you make this art kind of step by step. So maybe you're reading a quote, maybe you're talking to someone. They say something really inspiring. You're like, Oh my God, I want to translate that into an art piece. And maybe you're looking through the microscope, you see a beautiful image. You want to make that the background. Yeah, yeah. So you start with the background, this kind of psychedelic, more abstract kind of image, and then then the foreground is usually, I mean, I've, I've only seen a few pieces of your your work, but it seems like it's, most of the time a combination of mushrooms and plants or other organisms as well, kind of like a collage of different organisms. Do you know, when you sit down, you, I know you said in the beginning, you have kind of a vision in your head. Is it all fleshed out before you start and you're like, I want these five organisms on the foreground, and they're gonna look great together? Or do you start painting and then you're like, you know what? I'm gonna add a morel here, like, like, what's your what's your process? And how do you pick the different mushrooms or plants that you put on the canvas? Is there a reason why certain certain ones are paired together? Or is it, like, based on colors and shapes? Is it based on something else? Yeah, yeah. I'm just curious. You're processed. Great Speaker 1 31:04 question and yeah, great guesses. But I would say, like, your second guess about, like, adding things later, or, like, yeah, I would say I have this general composition that I have in my in my head, it's often this kind of growing. I would say, my paintings, they grow from the middle. So I usually have this central part that is like a main element, and then I kind of naturally, I have this growing kind of thing that somehow builds, builds up, and then, actually the background is not the first thing. Background actually often the last thing. Because obviously I want people to like, be attracted by the foreground, so I have to like, have to figure that out. And then, based on the colors and shapes that I have, I start to think, okay, what can I like add to the background that is allowing the viewer also to be, like, focused on the foreground, but at the same time to dive deeper later and see, you know, what else is there so? So there is, like, no exact step by step process, because, yeah, painting is quite a random thing that happens to us. But I would say if I try to put it like step by step, it would be a pencil sketch somewhere on the like, dirty paper somewhere in the angle of my room, because I just need to quickly, like, put it down, and then with time, maybe I would do like, a sketch in my sketchbook. Sketchbook practice is very important for me, but it used to be different. I used to just jump straight into painting, so it's it's changing over time, and then when I paint, it also depends on the material, because if I paint, let's say, with acrylics, then it's very forgiving material. And you can change things on the way. So you go with the flow, you you know your general composition, and then you can change things. It's very easy. Acrylics dry fast. You build it, you build it up, layer by layer, basically, and then you finish with highlights and details. And then, if it's oils, it's a little bit different story, because it involves a lot of planning and like playing steps ahead of of painting, and it's a little bit more, yeah, more like structured and but also fun with oils. Like, I have to start from the background in that, in that, in that case. Alex 33:57 So I know for like, creative writers, fiction writers, there's a phenomena that happens a lot, called writer's block, and I've heard this with other kind of creators as well, who do their art also as their full time job, you know. And there's this balance between doing it out of love and doing it from that. You know, I read a quote and I'm inspired, and I'm sitting down the canvas and it's flowing out of me. I'm having fun. It's, it's, I'm doing it for the love of it, versus, I have a client. They need this art done by this Friday. I need, you know, and it's, it's more like, Unknown Speaker 34:43 yeah, maybe pushing yourself, yeah. Maybe Alex 34:45 you didn't sleep well. Maybe you're like, you know, not feeling too well. You're not feeling inspired in the moment, like you're having a rough week, and you're like, oh my god, I got I like, I really am not feeling inspired right now, but I have a deadline on Friday. Okay, you know? Like, do you feel this? Like, like that, you have to push yourself and like, how do you as an artist deal with paying your bills and also doing it from, from a loving like, an inspirational place? Does that make sense? Yeah, Speaker 1 35:20 I wish I could say some magic answer to this. I'm like, Yeah, I found this. Alex 35:28 Don't, don't say anything that's not truthful. Oh, Speaker 1 35:31 it's a mess. It's hard, yes, just it's not easy. And you Yeah, learn on the way. Because, yeah, as an artist, like, I'm I'm also like, I have to take care of promotional stuff. I have to, like, take do all this social media, because otherwise no one will know about me. And sometimes I don't want to talk about myself. I like, I feel like I push, you know, people to, yeah, look at me. Look at me. And maybe it's not what I want, but on the other hand, yeah, like, as an artist, we have to share it, otherwise we'll always be here in our studio. And it's much easier with music, right? Because you go out and you sing and you know, here you go, you have the result. And with art, like you have to maybe spend a year painting new series, and then there are 1000s of other artists painting series, and they all like and it's quite overwhelming. And sometimes I have this balance. I guess nature helps just spending time out of the city, breaking up rules like breaking up your you know, like habitual habits, habitual routines, just, you know, just doing something different from from what you're already doing. I don't know, like I go, for example, for this figure, drawing sessions, like, which I don't really paint people. I used to do that, but I don't really paint people now, but, but I try to do something different. So I go and paint a figure, or, yeah, like, I don't know, an architecture, a fruit, anything, even obstruction, just like breaking, breaking the things that you usually do, yeah, so things like that, traveling, traveling is number one inspiration. Yeah, and and communicating, like I really figured out somehow more in the past years, but also, like, I think I always knew that just, I'm like, like many people, health introvert, health, extroverts. Sometimes I'm just not feeling like going anywhere but, but really, when you push yourself and going for like, new, new circles, I don't know, like meeting artists, meeting other creatives. It's really so inspiring. And yeah, mushroom community played a huge role, for sure, yeah, so things like that. Alex 38:12 Yeah. I had this conversation a lot with people with mushroom businesses, actually, or like, they want to start another mushroom business. And, you know, I, I mean, yeah, like, there's a famous quote by Gary linkoff. He's like, quit your job and dedicate your your life to mushrooms. And it's really funny, like, I have the same kind of consensus with people that have started mushroom businesses is that before we started the mushroom business, we actually spent more time geeking out about mushrooms, and then afterwards we're like, Oh yeah, I'm gonna dedicate all my time to mushrooms. With a mushroom business is like, we spend all of our time, like doing accounting and busy, like managing employees and on the computer and having meetings and like, we talks about this, right? Yeah, like, I actually spend less time doing mushroom stuff now that I have a mushroom business than before. And I always kind of have that conversation with people that want to start a mushroom business. I'm like, Well, if you really love it, maybe consider it just having it as a side hobby, you know. And like, I think boundaries have been really, really, really important to me in the last few years. Of like, I actually love going to mushroom festivals now and not teaching or not helping at all in the organization, or anything. Like, I just want to show up, go out in the woods and like, don't film for social media. I know it'd be great for our page if I'm out there like, oh, mushroom revival, yeah, look at us on this mushroom. And I'm like, no. Like, I just want to be out and enjoying it, to to enjoy it, you know. And those boundaries have been, like, really important for me. And I think, like, just like you said, it's, it's hard to find that balance, and you got to switch it up and you like it's, but it's important to prevent burnout, you know, because if, yeah, if it's something that you love, like, it it would suck if you got burnt out and the thing that you love is causing you to be drained, you know, like that. Yeah, sucks, but it's so real. Like, I hear this all the time with it's very possible, yeah, yeah, artists, or, like, anyone trying to make a living with something that that they love. Like, there's so many pros, but there's so many cons. On the same, same hand. You know, Speaker 1 40:45 it's a very like, fragile, yeah, balance like between these, these things for sure. I don't think there is any magic solution to that. It's, it's but, but sharing is, sharing helps. You know even that, now that we are talking about that like it helps me tremendously to just, you know, remember that I'm not alone dealing with this stuff. And yeah, that that that is important as well. I do Alex 41:13 in in the in the air of breaking up monotony. I do want to talk about your mushroom music. It's new to me, and I actually, I listen to, like, very I need to actually sit down and listen to, like, a full length of your song, because it was late last night. But I'm curious, have you ever made mushroom music, and do you combine both those art forms? Speaker 1 41:39 Yeah. So first of all, no, I haven't done a music with mushrooms. Like, you know what people do using, like, electronics and stuff, just your lyrics or anything related to mushrooms? Well, what I do, and it's, I guess, my own way. So, so as a performer, as a singer, I'm very much like traditional so it's like popular songs that anything from like 60s to our times, and also my original songs that don't, don't involve mushrooms, but I have this special format of concerts. I do it in one place, here in one cafe that was very open to like experimental stuff. And what I do is I create this mushroom animations out of my paintings. So basically it's like this fungi flowing and moving and having fun on the background. And then I sing. And so, because the music is this way of attracting people very easily, because, like, it's everyone knows it, people sing with you, but then they also, like, pay attention to what's happening behind you on this screen. And they're like, they're becoming interested in that as well. And I try to, like, share a little bit about nature and things that inspire me and that it's also like another thing that I do, and there's, you know, so so much more, so many more interesting things about mushrooms and and people become interested, and then they come with questions. And like, they become curious, and, yeah, I'm slowly building, like, my community here as well, for through these interactions, I think it's, it's unique format, and it seems like it's, it's working. Alex 43:37 And I'm that's so cool, by the way, I love to see some of those animations. It's awesome. And also really cool that you, you took that from your dad and and are, are doing many different art forms and weaving in nature alongside them, and kind of helping to teach people about connecting more to nature. I think that's really cool and similar to the conversation we were just having about, you know, having to pay your bills and do all this stuff if you had unlimited funds and resources and you didn't have to worry about, you know, making a living off your art, self promoting yourself or doing anything, and say you had a whole team of people behind you. You could do anything you wanted. Yeah, what would you do? And why? Okay, Speaker 1 44:30 oh my gosh. Is this even trustful? But I would love to, like, well, first of all, because I'm now, like, very much into teaching, I would love to, like, have a proper microscope available to all people, like, literally everyone, because everyone deserves to see it. But because this scientific world is so separate from, you know, from all the rest, it's just. Like, only people who could can see this, you know, mushroom or plant worlds under the microscope are the people who are students of scientific I don't know, departments and universities or scientists or doctors, that's all. And it's so hard to, like, get into this, because I've been trying really, and these science departments are quite like backwards, at least the ones that I reached out to, and they're quite like closed from everyone. So I guess I would love to, like, buy this extremely expensive, cool microscope. And as I'm teaching, you know, we are painting mushrooms under microscope. We are painting microscopic universes. I would like love people to actually see the real, very close magnification of things and so. So that would be one thing. Another thing would be cool to like do, like mushroom and plant and nature related murals all around the world, and have like resources for that would be amazing. I think our, you know, all these, those very boring buildings, could be so much more happier with like this kind of art. And the third thing would be, like traveling like, I would love to travel and paint mushrooms all over the world. You know, it's, it's so, so expensive to to get to, like, the other side of the planet. So that would be cool to have, like, a fund for for that, and to like contribute into mycology. And there, there are so many species that are even unknown, and just get, get to see all of them and paint all of them would be, would be such a joy for me. Alex 46:57 I think it was, it was either Santiago or Val preso Chile, that there was a ton of street art, and the the government actually paid artists to create it amazing. And I saw the same thing in a couple cities in Colombia as well, that it was something like, yeah, the city will pay you if you make amazing art, but if you do, like, a bad tag on the wall or something, or like, bad art, or, you know, some like, yeah, you know, like, just, like, simple graffiti, stupid stuff, yeah, then, then you'll be fined, or be arrested, or something like that. So it's like, make good art, or else you'll you'll be fine and and it was amazing to see that this the cities were like, promoting these artists as well and helping these kids as well. Like, choose so good besides, you know, joining gang or drug dealing or something like that. Yeah, Austin, the city I'm from, we have a lot of murals and really beautiful street art that some of them are paid by the city and and they're, they're great, but yeah, I, I would love to see more of that as well. And I have a really quick story about my microscope relationship. I do not do any microscopy. And, okay, I've only looked under a microscope like, twice in my life, okay? And there's a reason. The first, like, as you were saying it, I was like, thinking back, I'm like, why don't I do microscopy, because the first time I think, I was like, in science class, in like, fourth grade, and we're looking under a microscope, and I didn't first time I ever used one, and I pushed the the scope down too far on the glass slide, and the glass slide broke, And the teacher was like, pissed at me, and she's like, You broke the slide. Like, she's like, you're, you're like, banned from using the microscope. And I got all like, I was like, oh man. Like, yeah. Like, it's so funny. Like, as you were talking about, I just had that memory. Like, Oh, I haven't thought about that forever. And, and then the second time was, actually, I had, like, a mushroom internship when I was like, I don't know, 19 or something. And this is, like, over 10 years ago, and the guy was teaching me mushroom microscopy, and he had me look at two different spores under the microscope, yeah. And he's like, tell me the difference between these two spores. And I was like, I they look exactly the same to me. And he was like, well, one's like, a little more oval than the other one, and that's the only way to tell that this one. Is this one is poisonous and this one is not. And I was like, All right, I'm I'm out, yeah, like, I can't tell the difference. So I so I share that in, in in saying that I really hope that you teach people microscopy, and it seems like you would have a better experience teaching people, and they would have a better experience learning from you. And I really hope that young kids can learn from you and get inspired to get really excited about microscopy. And I wish I learned microscopy. Unknown Speaker 50:37 Yeah. I hope so too. Yeah, Alex 50:39 yeah. I hope those two things become a reality for you. And yeah, I'm rooting for you. Speaker 1 50:47 I hope these are not these are not only experiences that you will have with microscopes. Alex 50:53 Yeah, yeah. I was like, I gotta get another try. But it's really funny, like I yeah, it just hit me. I was like, I'm so curious why I have so many friends that are really into microscopy, and I've just, like, kind of stayed away from it, and I realized that's the reason it's really funny how we have these these memories from our childhood that are it was like a therapy session and you're like, from therapy, I really appreciate it. Unknown Speaker 51:24 We discovered your mushroom trauma now. Yeah, I Alex 51:27 really appreciate the healing session. Yeah. Do you? Do you have any advice for both aspiring mycologists Or my cross my microscopists? If that's a word, or just people like wanting to make mushroom art or music, or, you know, kind of following your footsteps. What? What advice would you give them? Speaker 1 51:53 I would say, first of all, surround yourself with community of like minded people, as I already was saying things about that, but it's really super important, because this will be the people who will cheer you up in the moments when you feel like, okay, I'm just this weird person. No one in the world understands me, and maybe I should just go back to the office and do my boring job and be unhappy again. So when these moments happen. We really need that community support and these crazy fun friends and that things the same and love and yeah, that just the people that are like, alive, and we feel ourselves alive around them. So I would say that, and then a good thing is to, like, engage in local projects. What I realized, like, I I've had and I'm still doing a lot of projects for like us, but I'm actually on the other side of the planet, and I'm, like, sometimes feeling very lonely and, like, isolated, because, like, I feel like all the fun stuff is happening in like us and all the festivals and everything, and so in the last few years, I decided that, you know, I I'm not gonna leave it like that. I should just really try and network here and, you know, see if I can build something here. And I managed to do some fun projects. Like, for example, I did some merchandise for Czech Mycological Society. I participated in some festivals. So I would advise to do things like that, just research, like your own festivals, or, like, I don't know, art, art events, and try, try to bring like, your own perspective into that, even though you might be this one weird person with mushrooms and all the rest is painting flowers and abstract art and but you still, it's still cool to do that and to like, and I'm sure you will find like, like minded people. They will come to you. They're like, Oh, I also love these things. I never thought that there is someone like you who is like, actually doing art with these things. And slowly but surely, you know, keep these connections and and you will, you will have some fun projects to work on, and maybe a few other things, is to sketch in nature. Go spend time with like a mushroom, with mushroom related organisms. Take maybe magnifying glass. I know that it's, you know, we cannot, many of us cannot afford the real microscope, so it's okay, just take magnifying glass. Now, they have quite good ones. You can take it to the forest. Have fun, experiment, play. Mushrooms are all about play and all about like discovering. There are so many like qualities of mushrooms that we can celebrate through art and through creativity. It's really like mushrooms are the really themselves. Lost the creativity like they're so expressive and playful. So So do these things and read books. Books are amazing, like radical mycology, I don't know, encyclopedias, entangled life mushroom at the end of the world, there are so many good mushroom books to like, get inspired from. So I would say these, these things are good to do. Alex 55:29 Do you have any fun projects coming up, any events that you're a part of? Any paintings coming out, any new music coming out, any anything, what's what's on your your calendar coming up. Speaker 1 55:44 Okay, I'm like, right now discussing one cool festival here in Czech Republic where I will be most likely, like, teaching art and maybe live painting. So like, I will be posting all of all of it on my social media. Then I'm in the middle of discussion of like exhibition, probably it will be with psychedelic Society of Czech Republic. Then I'm working on cool custom projects, custom art for one podcast. But again, I'm I'm not saying all of this right now, because I will be, like, announcing this on my like page. I have also email lists where people can join and, like, be aware of everything that's happening. So yeah, just stay tuned. Visit my social media and learn what's what's happening. But there will be some cool things happening. Alex 56:43 And what is your social media? Where can people find you? Speaker 1 56:46 So it's Irene, underscore Antonis, underscore art. That's my Instagram. And then, well, all the links are in bio, but in case you don't have Instagram, you can go to also check out my my Facebook page. If you're on Facebook, it's the same Irene Antonis art. I have YouTube as well, Irene Antonis. And you can also check out my Etsy shop. If you want some colorful art, it's www dot. Irene Antonis, dot, dot art and yeah, so yeah, just feel free to reach out to connect. I'm always happy to meet more mushroom obsessed people. Alex 57:37 Amazing. Well, thank you for coming on. It's, it's been a lovely conversation and therapy sessions. Yeah, it was a pleasure. I'm, I'm, I'm rooting for all your dreams to come true and keep making your art. It's, it's amazing art. But yeah, thank you for coming on. I appreciate it. Thank Speaker 1 57:58 you. It was so lovely to chat with you and yeah, thanks everyone for listening. Yeah. Alex 58:04 Thank you wherever you're tuning in from from around the world, this podcast could not be possible without everyone listening for wherever you are, if you like the show and you want to support, we don't have a Patreon or any way that you can donate directly, but we do have a mother brand also named mushroom revival, and we have a full line of organic functional mushroom products, from gummies, capsules, powders, tinctures, everything from energy, focus, calm, whole body, immune support. And if you want to get some we have a coupon code just for listeners, and that is pod treat for a surprise discount code if you don't want to spend any money, we have a giveaway going on. Link is in the bio. We pick a winner once a month to win some free mushroom goodies. And we also have a ton of free ebooks on there. We have a bunch of blogs that we were constantly writing, blogs all education around mushrooms, ecology mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, cooking with mushrooms, everything, you name it. We also have my newest book, The Little Book of mushrooms, on there as well. You can also pick it up in like every bookstore across the US. I don't know if we're international yet, but we might be and but you can get it from the site, and we ship it all around the world. And, yeah, leaving a review goes a long way. And then just apart from that, just spread the word about mushrooms. Get people super inspired about mushrooms and just nature in general. If you have a family, bring your kids out in the woods, tell the person backing you at the grocery store a fun fact that you learned in this episode or another episode, or just a fun fact about mushrooms, and get people just hyped about mushrooms. So I. Thank you, everyone as always, much love and may the spores be with you. You. Transcribed by https://otter.ai
