Hidden Worlds invites us into the intricate ecosystems that sustain life, yet often go unnoticed. From the microbiome within our bodies to the microbial networks beneath our feet and the photosynthetic organisms in our waters, Dr. Sara Schesser Bartra reveals the unseen through vibrant mixed-media installations that bridge art and science.
Rooted in research and imagination, the exhibition includes immersive works such as The Gut, Soil Microbes and Mycorrhizal Networks, Photosynthetic Microorganisms, and The Microbiology Lab. These interconnected environments highlight the intelligence, resilience, and interdependence of microbial life. Visitors encounter a glowing gut tunnel, a recreated underground fungal network, diatoms reimagined in resin, and a playful tribute to the scientific lab—each illuminating the role microbes play in digestion, immunity, oxygen production, climate resilience, and emotional well-being.
By transforming scientific knowledge into sensory experiences, Hidden Worlds reveals the beauty and complexity of life at a microscopic scale. Schesser Bartra challenges us to look closer, to appreciate the vast systems operating just beyond our perception, and to embrace the deep interconnection that binds all living things.