https://crisduarte.github.io/sete-ervas/
2022
“7 Herbs” is a web-based interactive artwork that evokes elements of popular Brazilian culture. It refers to a mystical belief that some plants can bring protection for home, soul and body. Using artificial intelligence, the artwork is able to detect the names of plants from the interactor’s speech and generate images of the plant. The work uses sound features to allow for the diversity of formation of images. A database was created with natural language and the images of the seven protective herbs rosemary, basil, sword-of-st.-jorge, arruda, peperomia (guinea) pimenta e cana-de-macaco (comigo-ninguém-pode); as well as nettle (urtiga). The seven herbs are considered by the Umbanda tradition, mixed with indigenous knowledge and Brazilian syncretism, as a protective shield for the soul and the home of the individual of the individual. The nettle is a common herb in most of Brazil, and some species are known for their stinging property: while alive, it produces toxic substances that cause irritation, burning and itching of the skin. However, when cooked and brewed into tea, it is beneficial to the body, and even has antioxidant properties that are related to health preservation.
Cristiane Duarte, Rolf Simos and Rosangella Leote
Brazil
Cristiane Duarte is a master’s student at the Arts Institute of Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). http://lattes.cnpq.br/2626233278507155 Rolf Simões has a PhD in Geoinformatics from the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/3441488230835922 Rosangella Leote is a multimedia artist/researcher; she has a post-doctorate in Media Art from Universidade Aberta – Lisbon – Portugal; a PhD in Communication Sciences from USP; Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/15924435784180388