PANKE INTERVENTIONS

Art Laboratory Berlin welcomes you to our autumn series PANKE INTERVENTIONS with various events by artists and scientists related to the river Panke.

The Koji workshop by ink Agop introduces the symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and human cultural activities by demonstrating the connection between Koji mould and food culture in Japan. Participants make rice koji using koji mould on the first day. We will examine the process of cultivating Koji on rice and learn about how time, temperature and humidity control its growth. In the process of fermentation, they will learn how the enzymes produced by Koji decompose carbohydrates into sugar.

On the second day, we will prepare miso using rice koji. Many Japanese foods also use further fermentation processes, such as the use of lactic acid-bacteria and yeast to further break down monosaccharides produced by Koji into other compounds such as amino acids and alcohol. We will experience the multiple parallel fermentation processes using koji, yeast and lactic acid bacteria. Participants will take home the rice koji and miso they made.

Ink Agop is a Japanese Photography & Videography, Fermentation Art artist, creating installations as well as visual arts based in Berlin. ink is also a member of the art science group DIY Hack the Panke, based at Art Laboratory Berlin.