The lecture, «Humanity Begins with Ignorance: How Science Creates Us (and Doesn’t),» was presented as part of the lecture program for the exhibition «Decoded Human» at SISTEMA GALLERY on August 6, 2027.The exhibition was the culmination of the work done during the residency of the genetics company «Evogen» and the Moscow School of Contemporary Art (MSCA) under the theme «The Code of Life: Genetics and Art.»
The curator was Anna Kirikova.
Residency finalists and exhibition participants.
Throughout our history, we have been inventing answers to the question: who are we and what should we do? Myths, philosophy, religions, spiritual movements, and sciences have explained the world less than they have allowed us to understand and shape ourselves—becoming subjects of our own lives. In this meeting, we will focus on the role of the sciences. They often promise to exhaustively study human nature and, based on this knowledge, restructure ethics, politics, and society. Humanity will overcome the veil of ignorance and finally align with its true nature (for example, its genetic nature), beginning to live accordingly. But is this initial ignorance of our nature a fundamental characteristic, or merely a temporary misunderstanding? What is this construction—human nature?
The cover design features a reproduction of Vania Repkin’s work, «Tower / Turris» (2026). Photo by SISTEMA GALLERY.