May 28, 2026

WASTE IS A MYTH: Where Art, Science, and Circular Bioengineering Meet

Art-Science Dialogues

As part of the BOKU Future Conference 2026, the exhibition WASTE IS A MYTH transformed the Semmelweis Clinic Art and Culture Center into a space where art, science, and circular bioengineering converged.

Developed in the context of the Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering, the exhibition explored how creative practices and scientific research can together challenge linear thinking and inspire new perspectives on sustainability, biotechnology, and the future of life on Earth and beyond.

A Metabolic Guide to Space Survival

At the center of the exhibition was “A Metabolic Guide to Space Survival” by artist Kristina Pulejkova, presented in Vienna for the first time following its world premiere in Venice. Through holographic projections and speculative storytelling, the installation invited visitors to imagine how microbial systems, fermentation, and circular life-support technologies could enable survival in extraterrestrial environments. Drawing from research in biotechnology and systems thinking, the work explored how closed-loop metabolic processes — essential for long-duration space missions — mirror the urgent need for circular systems here on Earth. The installation connected artistic imagination with scientific inquiry, highlighting how circular bioengineering can contribute to resilient futures through resource efficiency, microbial innovation, and regenerative thinking.

Taste the Space: A Multisensory Exploration

The exhibition opening also featured the live performance “Taste the Space” by Kristina Pulejkova, BOKU researcher Diethard Mattanovich, and artist and chef Michael Kalivoda. Blending biotechnology, gastronomy, and performance art, the collaboration transformed scientific concepts into a multisensory experience. Through food, storytelling, and artistic experimentation, the performance explored how microbial food systems and fermentation technologies could shape future approaches to nutrition, both on Earth and in space. The performance demonstrated how science communication can move beyond traditional formats and engage audiences through sensory and emotional experiences.

Artistic-Scientific Collaborations

Alongside the featured works, the exhibition presented a series of artistic-scientific collaborations developed through an open call initiated by BOKU University in cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

The participating projects reflected the interdisciplinary spirit of the BOKU Future Conference, bringing together researchers and artists to explore questions surrounding circular economies, renewable resources, waste, and sustainability.

By connecting creative practice with scientific research, WASTE IS A MYTH emphasized that addressing global environmental challenges requires not only technological innovation, but also new cultural narratives and ways of imagining the future.

Circular Thinking Beyond the Laboratory

The exhibition highlighted the broader vision of the Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering: developing transformative approaches that rethink how resources are produced, used, and regenerated.

By combining speculative design, biotechnology, science communication, and artistic experimentation, WASTE IS A MYTH created a platform for dialogue between disciplines and audiences. The exhibition demonstrated that circularity is not only a scientific or industrial concept, but also a cultural and societal one.

As part of the BOKU Future Conference 2026, the exhibition offered visitors a compelling reminder that waste does not have to be an inevitable outcome, but can instead become the starting point for innovation, regeneration, and entirely new ways of thinking.