poster is designed by Vaast Colson

The idea of a state as meta-human was described by Thomas Hobbes in the classic book of political philosophy, where the concept of a social contract theory between ‘Leviathan’ and citizens is outlined. Artistic strategy of taking metaphor literally and developing narratives from it is a point of departure for this lecture-performance. We still understand little about our bodies. The same is true for political processes. When you get health issues everyone around you either gives 'common advice’ on treatment or recommend you to see the doctor (what most of us try to escape usually). What is the political system 'illnesses’, 'hospital’, 'treatments’? Denis Maksimov drew (literally and figuratively) comparative parallels between the nature of Westphalian-modelled nation state, modern political systems and common knowledge about anatomy of the human body. The lecture-performance is a conceptual triptych, consisting of the physical nature of Leviathan, comparative politics and comparative medicine, the most common deviations and illnesses. 

Denis Maksimov was invited to stage lecture-performance by Vaast Colson. It was staged in Stadslimiet art space in Antwerp, Belgium, on January 9, 2015.