RETHINK BACTERIA

Perhaps you’ve heard about “good” bacteria. Perhaps you’ve heard about dangerous, resistant, “bad” bacteria. But in reality, there are no good or bad bacteria – only bacteria that have started to grow in the wrong place, or in ways that can sometimes make us ill.

Bacteria are everywhere on Earth – in the air, the soil, the water, and inside our bodies. They are at the heart of nature’s cleaning systems: tiny factories that break down dead plants and create fertile soils, that can help purify oceans from harmful chemicals, and capture greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They are our allies in tackling climate change. But they are also why we have antibiotics that cure infections, self-healing concrete – and the possibility of enjoying a fine cheese.

One of today’s great challenges is that some bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. To ensure antibiotics can continue saving lives, we must use them wisely and improve our ability to prevent infections. At the same time, we need to shift our relationship to both antibiotics and bacteria. Expanding our understanding of bacteria and their services is a vital step. Only when we realize that bacteria themselves are not the problem – but rather the systems we have created – can we safeguard both human and planetary health.

The art exhibition Rethink Bacteria makes the invisible microbial world visible, highlighting the crucial role of bacteria for a sustainable and thriving future. With this initiative, we aim to deepen awareness and understanding of how microbial life sustains our very existence – and how closely connected and dependent we are on these microscopic organisms to build a liveable future together.

“Bacteria at Work” is a dedicated section within the larger exhibition Rethink Bacteria. It highlights how bacteria and microorganisms are already applied in today’s innovations – from biotechnology and food to new materials and circular systems – showing their potential to shape a more sustainable future.

Experience Rethink Bacteria at MOOD Stockholm, October 2–29, 2025 – where the invisible becomes visible.

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Rethink Bacteria has been created in collaboration with Gabriela Torres Ruiz, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Antibiotic Smart Sweden, SLU, Humboldt University, and Pure Effect, together with committed artists, scientists, and industry partners.

A warm thank you to everyone who has contributed to the exhibition on this journey.