She holds a Master’s degree in Media Arts from the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University. 

Her work ranges from documentary filmmaking and interactive installations to virtual worlds and augmented reality apps. Co-founder of Nanai Studio, her immersive debut VR experience “Hypha” had its premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2020.

Hypha, 2019  (Documentation) 

Digital Video

Hypha is an immersive virtual reality story that takes you on a journey to cleanse Earth from man-made disasters by becoming a mushroom. From spore to mycelium, you can experience the life cycle of a mushroom to understand the importance of the Fungi

Kingdom as the main bioremediation agent of Earth.

The Fungi Kingdom is a perfect analogy for the changes and understanding our human race should reflect on, and VR immersive stories create a perfect platform for a more interactive and captivating narrative and engagement with the user. In an era where the VR industry is growing exponentially, this project generates a universal story that’s appealing to different markets and audiences, with a great potential to grow. Hypha is an artistic but educational masterpiece that will relate the audiences with a much-needed understanding of the cycle of life on our planet.

The omega-shaped (Ω) installation to showcase Hypha is all based upon biomaterials: algae bioplastic strips and a handmade wool rug. Hypha is Natalia’s result of her residency at the Museo del Hongo or Museum of Fungi, a pop-up museum that promotes the Fungi Kingdom and eliminates mycophobia through artistic and scientific mediation experiences on the intersection of art, science, design, and technology. Since 2016, the Museum of Fungi has worked with the renowned mycologist Giuliana Furci and the Fungi Foundation, who also participated as scientific advisors for Hypha.