Rethink Bacteria

Rethink Bacteria is an innovative SciArt project, initiated by Pure Effect, that explores the invisible microbial world we live in, and in what ways it is the very prerequisite for a vibrant future. Through photography, research, and stories, the exhibition invites us to see bacteria not as enemies, but as essential partners for life.

 

Why?
We live in symbiosis with bacteria, but rarely talk about them as something positive. Rethink Bacteria aims to spark curiosity and change the perception of the role of microbes – in nature, in our bodies, and in future materials. The project shows how bacteria can become a resource for sustainable innovation: in the fight against antibiotic resistance, textile care, skincare, medicines, building materials, and biotechnological solutions that benefit both people and the planet.


Background
The idea was born in 2018 after a visit to the Micropia museum in Amsterdam. After seven years of work, the first exhibition opened in MOOD Stockholm in October 2025, in collaboration with artist Gabriela Torres Ruiz, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Antibiotikasmart Sverige, SLU, and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The vision is for the project to travel further, grow in new formats, and reach even more people – perhaps all the way to the UN headquarters in New York.

Results & Insights
The project has generated interest in research, art, and business – as an example of how microbiology can create new sustainable solutions and compelling stories.

Rethink Bacteria has:
•    increased understanding of the importance of microbes for human and planetary health
•    created an inspiring meeting place for new collaborations in natural science, art, and circular design
•    contributed to education and awareness of the One Health perspective
•    given Pure Effect a clearer role as a driver for microbial innovation in everyday life

The project shows that art can be a powerful catalyst for change – and that bacteria can be part of the solution, not the problem.


Discover more
Get to know the ten bacteria portrayed and their importance for a livable future.
Read more at www.rethinkbacteria.org