We think of microbes as the cause of diseases that spread through epidemics. But we forget that these “tiny beings” form worlds that inspire wonder in those who observe them under a microscope. To distance ourselves from microbes in order to modify their behavior, classify their diversity, and control their proliferation is to extend the practice by which other societies trap insects or spirits in order to interact with them.
Beyond the fear that microbes inspire due to their ability to act in the invisible realm, a fear known for two centuries, this exhibition highlights their long-standing uses in fermentation. Through their presence in our food and drinks, microbes signal connections between the world within us and the world outside us. What infects us if we don’t keep our distance can also be cultivated as a way of creating worlds.
By showcasing scientific tools, ethnographic objects, and contemporary artworks, this exhibition explores how to inhabit the unease evoked by the small beings around us.
The exhibition features works by Hervé di Rosa, Clarisse Nampijinpa Poulson, Fabrice Hyber, Joseph Nechvatal, Luke Jerram, and Lawand.
