Fragile Microbiomes at Thackray Museum of Medicine

You can always encounter strange and wonderful exhibits at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, but this time you should get ready for something really special. Bio artist Anna Dumitriu’s exhibition Fragile Microbiomes offers incredible artworks and new perspectives to encounter. 

The Museum describes it as their “most innovative exhibition” – Fragile Microbiomes features installations made using bacteria, DNA, altered vintage objects, 3D printing, textiles, video and digital technologies. 

Dumitriu is an internationally renowned artist who has held shows at some of the biggest galleries in the world. Her signature works stem from a unique combination of art and science and while she works across many mediums, her work is often rooted in textiles. Conceptually, the artist’s oeuvre is underpinned by the notion of interconnectedness and the rejection of divides between that which is natural and human. Her works represent a desire to work with organisms such as bacteria, that she chooses as part of her process.

Textile works are prominent at Fragile Microbiomes too, with The Plague Dress (2024) presented as the centrepiece and an undeniable highlight of the show. The garment is stuffed with lavender which pokes out of the top and is also what the dress rests on. The aromatic herb was used during the Great Plague of London to cover the smell of infection and to ward off disease. The silk dress itself is a reference to the Silk Road, which played a key role in the spread of disease, while the embroideries are saturated with the DNA of Yersinia pestis (plague) bacteria. Don’t worry, the DNA has been extracted and therefore made harmless, but the symbolism of the action remains. 

Viewers will also encounter other works such as Bacterial Baptism (2022) – a vintage christening gown that explores the idea that newborn babies come into contact with bacteria during birth which has been described as a “bacterial baptism”, and looks closer at how the microbiomes of babies develop, with a focus on the bacterium Clostridioides difficile.

Microbe Mouth is quite literally a teeth necklace – an adornment made from handmade porcelain teeth covered in glazes made from oral bacteria.

By interacting with these and other works, you’ll be able to see the extent of the artist’s commitment to the field of BioArt and the fascinating interactions between fine art and biological procedures to create both beautiful and multi-layered objects. You will not forget Fragile Microbiomes in a hurry! The Museum is very family friendly too so you can bring younger visitors to enjoy this exciting exhibit.