22.11.2020 – 02.07.2021

Pythian School of Futures is a podcast series by Avenir Institute that critically examines outdated conceptions of the future to produce plural, inclusive and participatory understandings of it. The title refers to the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi that served as its oracle. Denis Maksimov poses questions on ambivalent factors with definitive impacts on our collective future such as normality, state politics, futurology, historiography, and language.

Pythian School of Futures is an exhibition, learning program, and podcast series produced by Avenir Institute. This body of work sets out to critically examine outdated conceptions of the future to propose plural, inclusive and participatory understandings of it. Its title refers to the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi who also served as its oracle. Also known as the Oracle of Delphi, Pythia was among the most powerful figures in ancient Greece who engineered the future for its time by delivering prophecies.

Seeking to elaborate a subjective take on the future conceptualized idiosyncratically as avenirology, the first chapter of the Pythian School of Futures is the podcast series. Consisting of seven episodes, it will unfold by unpacking past and new works of Avenir Institute. Co-founder of the institute, Denis Maksimov will pose questions regarding various subjects that have a definitive impact on our collective future such as normality, state politics, futurology, historiography, and language.

Pythian School of Futures is available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts.