Elena Demi-dova and Maxim Kalmykov

Neurochado 2.0 and the Heredity Archive

Elena Demi-dova and Maxim Kalmykov

Neurochado 2.0 and the Heredity Archive

2026

Interactive installation (neural network personality, performative intervention, family archive)

Courtesy of the authors

Project created with the support of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The project is based on the story of the artist family Elena Demi-dova and Maxim Kalmykov, who faced the impossibility of continuing their family line even with the help of IVF. Genetic tests of the resulting embryos revealed abnormalities one after another. Due to their age and health, the couple has decided against further attempts at in vitro fertilization.

All the family has are ‘mosaic’ embryos, which have been found to contain genetic abnormalities. Their implantation is contraindicated because they carry DNA defects that could lead to possible foetal malformations. Despite this, Elena and Maxim have decided to store them in a cryochamber at a medical clinic. The artists are eager for the day when embryo editing will be introduced into medical practice. One day this will be possible, and a new person – a descendant – will be born!

When this will happen is unknown, but DNA editing technology (‘genetic scissors’) already exists. The most advanced of these is called CRISPR/Cas9. It can be used to ‘cut out’ a specific gene and either ‘disconnect’ or edit it using a DNA matrix. The matrix acts as a template developed by scientists, which is delivered to the cell. Using this template, the cell itself produces a new gene. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been known to humanity for several years, but has not yet found widespread medical application.

The wait for the miracle of birth could take decades, and perhaps the parents themselves will no longer be alive by then. For now Elena and Maxim are creating a neural network image of their future son, so that when the real child sees his or her doppelganger, he or she can perceive him or her as a model of what the parents wanted him or her to be. The artists attempt to influence the child’s character, behaviour and way of thinking (some believe that the foundation of parenting is formed by the age of three, so a neural network child is always 3.5 years old). They speculate on which parent their son will most resemble and what character traits he will inherit. His portrait is generated based on childhood photographs of his mother and father, as well as his grandparents.

In the installation space the parents have arranged a room in which they believe the child will thrive. Here you can find things given to him by his family and their friends, such as a stuffed lion – a gift from the son of his mother's friend – and vintage toys from his grandparents. A video is also shown, capturing both individual stages of the creation of this neural child and moments of anticipation for its arrival.

“We hope that thanks to faith in miracles and hope in technology and science, dreams of having a child will come true, and not just in our family,” say Elena and Maxim.

The baby's name is Sasha and he is three and a half years old. He loves being read to (his favourite books are on the bookshelf), enjoys learning new things about the world, and reflects on life (as much as his accumulated life experience allows). Viewers can get to know him and interact with him through headphones and a microphone. Sasha will be happy to listen to stories and talk about his favourite toys. If he’s willing, he’ll answer questions and share a little about himself, or he might not: he’s just a kid.

When interacting with Sasha, be polite and precise! The neurochild’s parents are watching him. His mother periodically connects to the installation via webcam to be close to him. It’s important for her to ensure that communication with her son is polite and proper. If not, she may intervene in the conversation and even take him away.