COSMIC EXISTENCE

The philosophical inspiration for the exhibition comes from Russian Cosmism, an avantgarde movement on the borderland between art, mysticism, science and activist speculation about the future. The father of Cosmism (and librarian at Moscow State Library) Nikolai Fedorov (b. 1829) considered the prime goal of human- kind to be the achievement of universal immortality. This included an ethical duty to resurrect the dead, as well as the colonisation of outer space. This was a duty the Cosmists who came after him took seriously, and Fedorov’s mentee Konstantin Tsiolkovskij (b. 1857) is today seen a scientific pioneer of space travel.

However, Cosmic Existence, is not an exhibition about Russian Cosmism. Rather, the exhibition is inspired by the method of cosmism and its sense of unrestrained utopian speculation – especially its particular blend of hard-core science and spirituality. The cosmic perspective offers an expanded understanding of reality that can mirror our contemporary times. This approach is also closely connected to science fiction and its ability to think in radically alternative paradigms and expanded spheres of action. By linking contemporary art and science fiction the exhibition explores a wide range of scenarios for the future, giving us the opportunity to reinterpret the world anew.