Alive Yet Still: Challenging Boundaries of Life and Culture through Kombucha Art, New York and Stockholm-based Artist Anna Ting Möller

Anna Ting Möller is an artist living and working in New York City and Stockholm. Möller received an MFA from Columbia University, New York and a BFA from Konstfack University, Stockholm, SE. Möller’s work has been exhibited around the world, including Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, SE; ArkDes, SE; Carl Eldh, SE; ICPNA La Molina, PE; Luan Gallery, CH; Jyväskylä; Art Museum, FI; Titanik, FI, Supper Club Fair, Hongkong, HK; Gallery Tutu, US; Island Gallery, US; Murmurs, US; Urban Glass, US; and Alexander Berggruen, US. They participated in the 45th Tendencies Biennale in Norway and The Immigrant Artist Biennale in New York. The artist’s solo exhibition at Gallery Tutu in New York was reviewed in Hyperallergic and Brooklyn Rail. 

We’d love to hear how you got started, Anna Ting. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Växjö, in Småland, in the south of Sweden. As a child, I found it to be a great environment, with closeness to nature fostering a rich, creative world and a vibrant imagination. However, as a teenager, I found it less stimulating due to its limited resources and somewhat narrow worldview, which ultimately led to my “escape” as a 19-year-old. Since then, I have lived in major cities like London and Beijing, and for the past three years, in New York.

How do you define your practice? What are you exploring in your projects?

My work explores the intersections of materiality, transformation, and bodily processes. I often incorporate kombucha cultures to create ephemeral sculptures that challenge conventional notions of life, care, and lineage. Focusing on themes such as the sexualized and grotesque, my work critiques societal constructs, particularly the fetishization of the Other. My work embraces collaboration and performance, integrating sound, movement, and space to create immersive, dynamic experiences that evolve over time.

What is your process like? Do you have any preferences regarding materials or approaches in your projects?

My work examines allegories of kombucha as a mother, offspring, caregiver, contaminant, and parasite, emphasizing the necessity of continuous care. It delves into the symbolic meaning of mothering through Kristeva’s concepts of abjection, as well as the semiotic and symbolic dimensions, which are essential for understanding the formation of the self. This performance addresses these concepts rooted in linguistic and bodily experiences during the early stages of life, highlighting the separation between the self and the other. Linked to infancy and “mother”.

“My work is alive.”

But in what way does it live? 

Though it does not move, it occupies a unique space—akin to a third category —between living and non-living things. The kombucha culture at the heart of my practice is a living organism which reproduces asexually and exhibits a form of self-creation. This non-human propagation becomes intertwined with human activities, particularly in the context of “kombucha as a cultural object –  a health drink. In this way, the work bridges nature and culture.

What does “community” mean to you? How do you see yourself in a community?

Community, to me, is a space of exchange, support, and growth. People who share ideas, experiences, and challenges create a sense of belonging vital for any creative practice. I see community as both a source of inspiration and a place for accountability, where we uplift one another and collectively expand what art can do. 

In my involvement with the “Here and There Collective,” I’ve found a platform that brings together artists from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and share their narratives. It’s a space where I’ve been able to deepen my dialogue with others and where my own ideas are constantly challenged and enriched. It feels not just reactive but proactive, fostering relationships that empower both individual and collective voices.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on an installation that will be shown early next year, and I’m incredibly excited about it! It continues my exploration of living materials and will integrate elements of my ongoing kombucha-based practice and research. 

Do you have any advice that you would offer to others?

Oh, that sounds scary…

Experiment with new materials, and processes. Take risks or fail—failure can lead to unexpected and meaningful discoveries. Also, embrace restrictions. While it might seem counterintuitive, having some form of limitation I find helpful.

Patience, especially if you’re working with evolving materials, like I do with my kombucha. Letting things develop at their own pace and learning how to balance control with organic growth. Finally, trust in your process, your practice is your own. Keep engaging with the themes and questions that resonate with you. 

text & photo courtesy of Anna Ting Möller

• Website: https://www.annatingmoller.com
• Instagram: @annatingmoller