As we've often noted in these pages, the future will be analogue.
That's not to say that we will turn our backs on all our modern technology, but much more as technology takes over ever more aspects of our daily lives and as we understand what technology can do and how best to harness it, not only will we be freed to concentrate on those things which genuinely matter to us but we will have ever more freedom to organise and lead our lives as we want, freed from the conventions and constraints of mass production, demanding brands and global standards. And those things which genuinely matter to us and which we actually want are always analogue.
Always.
In May 2014 Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam premièred the exhibition "Beyond the Senses" in which the views of eleven contemporary designers and artists on the future roles and goals of technology in society were explored and elucidated.
From October 1st the exhibition can be viewed at Hôtel Droog in Amsterdam.
Among the, for us, more interesting contributions are Ekso Bionics' Exoskeleton suits, the art project #NotABugSplat which places large portraits of innocent victims of US drone attacks on the ground in Pakistan to remind drone pilots in America that there are real people on the ground in Pakistan, and the Lost Luggage project from Freedom of Creation founder Janne Kyttanen, a project which envisages a future in which rather than lugging a suitcase with on your travels sees you send a data file to your destination from which all the objects and clothing you need are 3D printed. A special mention must also go to the Liter of Light project. Originally developed by Brazilian mechanic Alfredo Moser before being taken on by the Philippine based MyShelter Foundation, Liter of Light sees plastic bottles filled with water being used an analogue light source for houses and public buildings which have no access to the conventional electricity grid, so largely inner city slums or rural communities.
In addition Beyond the Senses features contributions from Tokujin Yoshioka, Ruben Pater, Konstantin Grcic, Borre Akkersdijk, Floris Kaayk, Atelier Ted Noten and Chris Kabel.
Beyond the Senses - Design Column #8 runs at Hôtel Droog, Staalstraat 7B, 1011 JJ Amsterdam from Wednesday October 1st until Sunday November 9th.
Full details can be found at www.hoteldroog.com
