Analog Identity
Arjun Sivaprakasam Thamilarasan
Throughout history, humans have been creators of machines and tools, which they have utilised to shape both tangible objects and intangible experiences. As our evolution progresses, our tools, thoughts, and perspectives on the world have also advanced, altering the ways in which we interact with and consume information.
Despite our development as opinionated beings, there remains a persistent unease when confronted with differing truths. Belief systems, cultural values, and personal morals serve as veiled frameworks through which we perceive both life and ourselves. Yet, in a world where cultural identity is increasingly personal amidst a prevailing resistance to change, how do the analogue tools of the colonial era contribute to reshaping our sense of self?
This thesis delves into the influence of analogue tools on contemporary identity formation, exploring how they shape our self-perception and our perceptions of others. With the deliberate intention to slow down our engagement with physical objects, the imageless catalogue, accompanied by an image archive, prompts readers to interact with "me" by responding to prompts and arranging pieces from the archive, ultimately creating a fragmented collage of identity. The multiplicative interaction, in turn, generates an archive of perceived identities utilising the existing provided archive.