» Dysbiotica: Next Generation–Child

Throughout their career, Ken + Julia Yonetani have addressed themes of environmental degradation and the inherent contradictions of global economic systems, often describing their artistic motivation as rooted in a deep sense of anxiety. In recent years, their focus has shifted toward the invisible yet vital world of microorganisms – a fascination that grew from their experience in organic farming. Through this practice, they came to recognize how microorganisms inhabit everything from soil and oceans to the human body, maintaining the balance of life through intricate forms of symbiosis.

From this inquiry emerged the series Dysbiotica (begun in 2020). The title derives from dysbiosis, a biological term referring to the disruption of the gut microbiome. The project developed through years of organic cultivation and collaborative research with the Institute for Future Environments at Queensland University of Technology, Australia. 

Visually reminiscent of coral forms bleached and encrusted to the point of lifelessness, the porcelain sculptures of Dysbiotica evoke a sense of fragility and emptiness – an impending collapse. Yet, within these desolate structures appear figures of children and deer – symbols of innocence and renewal – indicating a flicker of hope amid the tension between decay and regeneration.