Julia Guérin - Analog Minds

Analog Minds (AM) is a social club dedicated to the preservation and development of analog technology. When you visit the club, you’ll be required to leave all technology behind, and a neurochip jammer will be placed on your head. Within the sanctuary of Analog Minds, the members cultivate meaningful connections and fuel their creativity through engaging hands-on experiences.

The human touch in an ai world

In the year 2037, rapid technological advancements have reshaped our world, transforming our daily lives in unprecedented ways. Traditional technologies like facial and fingerprint recognition are now considered outdated and unreliable. Instead, the new norm is the implantation of brain chips. These chips have become mandatory for navigating the modern world, essential for most jobs, financial transactions, grocery shopping, and even maintaining physical health. Initially designed by Elon Musk to enhance productivity, these chips have been adopted by other corporations as well. While this chip technology offers numerous benefits such as reduced crime and streamlined interactions, it also comes with significant drawbacks. Privacy has greatly diminished, and individuals can no longer disconnect or disable their chips. Opting out entirely would make it challenging to participate in modern society. Studies indicate a decline in cognitive abilities as people have become overly reliant on the chips, reducing their independent thinking and decision-making skills.

Those who have experienced life both before and after the chip implementation start to rebel against this technological dependency. They yearn for a return to a simpler time, seeking meaning and fulfilment that existed in the past. With AI taking over many industries and rendering jobs monotonous, they long for a world that is not constantly tethered to the online realm.

At 36 years old, Niya, a graphic designer, reflects on her journey working with AI and feels a deep dissatisfaction with the lack of personal touch in her work. She reconnects with former colleagues, Julia and Valentin, in a quest to find an empty space where they can establish a club, dedicated to embracing analog techniques and socialising free from the influence of technology. Their aim is to rediscover personal fulfilment in their creative pursuits.

Within this club, a sanctuary emerges for those seeking to revive analog arts and nurture their creativity using their hands. AM, far from merely preserving analog techniques, also strives to advance them. They make significant strides in techniques such as screen printing, typewriting, pottery, and analog photography. Within the club’s confines, the digital world is left behind, aided by a brain chip jammer invented by the club members. Inside, they rely solely on the power of their own brains and imaginations.

Becoming a member

Becoming a member of AM is an exclusive experience, as the club aims to establish itself as a distinct subculture rather than a widely popular trend. Consequently, obtaining club membership primarily revolves around receiving personal invitations discreetly tucked within the club’s cigarette packs. Concealed within these packs is a cryptic message, acting as a riddle that guides individuals to follow the AM graffiti tags using a UV light. Behind these tags, one can discover a stenciled brain, affirming that they are on the correct path. Furthermore, the invitation contains a sequence of numbers, serving as the code to gain entry into the club’s physical establishment through a concealed ATM entrance.

Another way to join AM is through their presence on TikTok. While AM doesn’t actively post on TikTok, they have a single video on their page that subtly hints at the club’s discreet location. This strategy aims to engage a broader and less informed audience, expanding awareness about the club’s existence.