Kin*tsugi 

Regeneration Through Microbial Collaboration

Kin*tsugi is a project that engages with invisible forms of life—bacteria—and broken objects and materials, exploring processes of repair and regeneration. Inspired by the Japanese traditional practice of Kintsugi, the work reinterprets the word “Kin” not only as “gold,” but also as “bacteria” (kin in Japanese), proposing new forms of restoration through collaboration between humans and microorganisms.
In response to contemporary society’s endless cycles of mass production and consumption, the project presents a vision of “Regeneration” grounded in circulation, coexistence, and transformation.
Through the biomineralization processes of bacteria, fragmented objects are reconnected and given new structural relationships. At the same time, fungal mycelium is cultivated onto damaged materials, allowing them to transform into entirely different entities. Crossing between scientific experimentation and artistic practice, Kin*tsugi embodies a form of contemporary alchemy shaped through collaboration with microbial life.