Julia Watson. Lo-TEK. Design by Radical Indigenism

The mythology of technology created by European Enlightenment intellectuals 300 years ago ignored local wisdom and indigenous innovation, deeming it primitive. Today, designers perpetuate this mythology, relying on exploiting nature to respond to climate change. Lo-TEK, derived from Traditional Ecological Knowledge, is a cumulative body of multigenerational knowledge that counters this idea and explores thousands of years of human wisdom from 18 countries. The book offers a sophisticated and sustainable approach to design that works with complex ecosystems, featuring a tactile reading experience with sophisticated design details.

\n Format: Book
\n Length: 420 pages
\n Publication date: 09 February 2021
\n Publisher: Taschen GmbH
\n

Three hundred years ago, a group of intellectuals during the European Enlightenment era crafted a mythology of technology that was heavily influenced by humanism, colonialism, and racism. This mythology disregarded local wisdom and indigenous innovation, labeling it as primitive and inferior. However, it is only now that we are beginning to fully comprehend the lasting impact of this mythology.

In the field of design, designers are acutely aware of the urgent need to minimize humanity's negative environmental impact. However, they continue to perpetuate the same mythology of technology that relies on exploiting nature. In response to climate change, designers advocate for constructing hard infrastructures and favoring high-tech, homogenous designs. This approach, while well-intentioned, ignores millennia-old knowledge of how to live in symbiosis with nature. Without incorporating soft systems that utilize biodiversity as a building block, designs remain inherently unsustainable.

Lo-TEK, short for "Traditional Ecological Knowledge," is a collective body of multigenerational knowledge, practices, and beliefs that challenge the notion that indigenous innovation is primitive and exists in isolation from technology. It is a sophisticated and well-designed system that is capable of working sustainably with complex ecosystems. This book, with a foreword by anthropologist Wade Davis and four chapters covering Mountains, Forests, Deserts, and Wetlands, explores thousands of years of human wisdom and ingenuity from 18 countries, including Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya, Iran, Iraq, India, and Indonesia. By rediscovering this ancient mythology in a contemporary context, we are able to radicalize the spirit of human nature.

The tactile reading experience of Lo-TEK is designed to reflect the ingenuity of the carefully selected projects featured within. The copper highlights the value of ancient knowledge, the cardboard hardcover echoes the rawness of nature, and the Swiss binding showcases an open spine and reveals the book's pages. Each design detail contributes to the overall aesthetic and reflects the deep reverence for the wisdom passed down through generations.

In conclusion, the mythology of technology that emerged three hundred years ago has had a profound and lasting impact on our understanding of innovation and the relationship between humans and nature. While designers are working to address environmental concerns, it is essential to recognize the legacy of this mythology and incorporate indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices into our designs. By doing so, we can create a more harmonious and sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

\n Weight: 1062g\n
Dimension: 175 x 254 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9783836578189\n \n