“Fermented Reality” is an installation that allows one to experience the environment through the lens of the microscopic organisms that surround us—both inside and out.

The piece brings the bubbling process of fermentation to the center. A reality that is not available to human eyes unless we use magnifying instruments or learn to identify their presence by their resulting products. Different cultures have learned through time to cohabitate and develop relationships with microbes, experiencing their environments through fermentation. During fermentation, organisms orchestrate a symphony of chemical reactions that lead to common products like bread, wine, beer, vinegar, cheese, yogurt, pickles, kombucha, and more. This work also speaks about a reality that is in constant change, where collaboration between diverse organisms brings cultures to develop new flavors, new environments, and new worlds.

The fermentation process demonstrates how microbes are collaborators that can provide sustainable solutions, from the creation of food to plastic alternatives and soil amendment (Bokashi composting).

Parallel to the installation, we created the “Fermented Reality” App. We invite you to explore your surroundings through the app and see the world through fermentation on your own iOS device here.

Fermented reality is a collaboration between Joteva Studio, Maru García and Olderbrother with sound design by Kati Milano.