FOLK
– from breed types to DNA sequences
- Race as a biological concept should have died a long time ago. But racial thinking and related ideas are unfortunately on the rise. This uncomfortable paradox is the background for the exhibition PEOPLE, say exhibition curators Jon Røyne Kyllingstad and Ageliki Lefkaditou. Photo: Åsa Mikkelsen The exhibition PEOPLE explores the historical and contemporary studies of human biological variation and the interaction between research, society and culture. The exhibition's message is clear: We all belong to the same species, Homo sapiens, and our DNA is more than 99% identical. This small variation is the product of an interaction between genes, environment, migrations and contact between people. Because of this, we cannot draw clear boundaries between distinct groups. These groups are not found in nature. The heyday of scientific racism may be over, but notions of race live on in various ways - not only in extreme ideologies, but also in established ways of thinking and how we relate to each other in daily life.
The exhibition opens up for reflection on the long and problematic history linked to the interest in the biological similarities and differences between people. Such research has helped to legitimize slavery, colonialism, class differences and nationalism, and is still linked to the powerful forces of identity narratives. PEOPLE points to the links between historical race research and examples of exploitation, discrimination, brutal assimilation and extermination of millions of people worldwide. But visitors also encounter the opposition to racist ideologies from researchers, activists and politicians.
- The questions about previous scientific racism and its effects as well as the ethical and political implications of DNA research are most often hidden in societal debates. PEOPLE actualize such connections. We contribute with a critical attitude and historical awareness, concludes first conservator in the history of health and medicine at the Medical Museum, Ageliki Lefkaditou. Photo: Håkon Bergseth
The idea of race has not only had catastrophic human costs. It has also led science astray in its efforts to map the evolutionary history of mankind and to explain biological differences between peoples. In the last two decades, genetics has undergone a technological revolution, producing large amounts of new data about individuals and populations. In the present part of the exhibition, visitors gain insight into how this changes our understanding of human diversity and take part in the discussion about the opportunities and challenges of research.
- Racism is not just about brown skin. It's about Sami, Tatars and Roma. There is more and more research on this, but not enough. I was at the Folk exhibition at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology , and I was completely dizzy, says performing artist, playwright and musician Camara Lundestad Joof. Photo: Håkon Bergseth
The exhibition discusses science as a process, which strives to understand how the world works. But science is always part of society and limited by the researchers' individual abilities and their institutional commitments. In an age of "fake news", a critical approach to research is important. PEOPLE point to how today's research is still surrounded by difficult questions. These questions are scientific, political, societal and ethical. Access to genetic material, language, methods and theories used, and the interpretation of the results remain controversial.
The activity Lyden av FOLK invites visitors to express the concepts of identity and belonging through sound images that describe emotions. Our feelings and the sounds we associate with them are as diverse as our identities, origins, cultures and ways of being. With this activity, it opens up for curiosity and reflections in many ways that people are alike and different.
FOLK must be an open and inclusive arena that stimulates discussions and makes it possible for all visitors to get involved in the topic.
The exhibition is produced in collaboration with the University of Oslo: Kulturhistoriskmuseum museum, department of university history (MUV, UiO). Co-producers are Árran Lule Sami Centre, Grorud Youth Council, Setesdalsmuseet. The exhibition is financed by the Research Council of Norway and Fritt Ord.
The museum as a meeting place and arena for dialogue
The museum as a dialogue arena. Photo: Håkon Bergseth
For the museum, it is important to use the institution as a starting point for exploratory conversation and real participation. In 2018, various types of events and meetings were held. Many of these have been associated with the Medical Museum's main initiative PEOPLE, others have taken the museum's other themes and collections as their starting point: On 2 September, Inger E. Nitter's book Den indre polarferden was launched. Psychosis as imagery, with a display of some of Nitter's tabs and a conversation between her, art historian Ingeborg Høvik and literary scholar Marie-Therese Federhofer. On 28 September at the Researchers' Night event, in collaboration with Forskningsdagene, psychologist Christian Schlüter participated on personality, artist Martin White on psychiatrist CW Sem-Jacobsen and filmmaker Ellen Ugelstad on mental health. On 24 October, the first meeting of the conversation series Medical Rooms took place. The power of the diagnosis of the stack. Nine specially invited guests and over 100 visitors spent the evening discussing the soon-to-be historic diagnosis of transsexualism, in order to become a little wiser together.