Yuhang Ke
Yuhang Ke
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The clone technology
Julian Bleecker: “Design fiction objects are totems through which a larger story can be told, or imagined or expressed. They are like artifacts from someplace else, telling stories about other worlds”.

Design of the narration “help each other”
The original of the narrative „The Clone Technology“ comes from an old fable story: the story of the blind and the lame. When the blind man met a lame, they decided to help each other. The blind man became the leg of the lame man, and the lame man became the blind man’s eye so that they could carry on. This story can be simplified as: Two subjects, each with their own mistakes, help each other to achieve one together.

Focus on stage
The exchange of memories is at the core of the whole story. We have to arrange the protagonists on the stage of this action. First of all, men are the protagonist clones as participant and experiencer of this ritual. Next, the form and vessel of memory should be determined. Daily objects that get along with us become the best memorial. What is missing in the end is how the core storyline comes about in which the design is to take place. In ancient China and West Asia, there was a negotiation ritual called „the gold in sleeve“. Two businessmen act through the sign language in their sleeves. Following this ancient ritual, the two clones exchange objects to complete the sharing of memories.
Cloning in the future has changed the focus of the story from blind and lame with specific characteristics to a larger and more universal context. Memory is an abstract, complex experience that comes back to life. The exchange of memories is considered the most important act in the narration in order to make room for the insertion of daily objects. The attitude of dividing the memory into two parts offers the narrative more options.

Speculative Design / Berlin / 2020

Yuhang Ke

The story of clone technology
1. In 2120, after deliberation by the UN, human cloning technology was allowed to be put into use.
2. People who lived 100 years ago can also be cloned.
3. However, due to technological limitations, humans cannot clone complete memories. Memories can only be divided into two clones.
4. To get a complete memory, the two clones must help each other and exchange the memory.
5. But how?
6. It turns out that daily objects in life have become a carrier of memory. These objects hold memories from 100 years ago. Human clones can exchange memories by exchanging daily objects.
7. This device allows clones to exchange daily items to complete memory sharing.
8. Human clones can also share memories by exchanging huge objects, such as houses.
9. With the help of everyday objects, the clones receive a complete memory.
10. This is the story of cloning technology.
11. Hmmm… …
12. This is really an interesting book, isn’t it?
13. Now you know why we value everyday objects because they are the bearers of our memories. If you want your clones to be able to exchange memories with each other after 100 years, you should treat everyday objects well from now on.
14. And this is the story about “The power of ordinary”.

Yuhang Ke

The power of ordinary
Just like the allegorical story of the blind and the lame, the blind and the lame are only the representative protagonists of their own history, but in history of „cloning technology“ is about helping each other. The goal of the narrative „cloning technology“ is not to discuss future technologies and the ethics of human cloning, but to show the power of daily objects. Daily objects as participants and witnesses of our life. They have a very close connection (memory) with us, and although their strength is not noticeable, they are so strong and can keep memories alive.

More Information

Yuhang Ke
Yuhang Ke

The clone technology
Julian Bleecker: “Design fiction objects are totems through which a larger story can be told, or imagined or expressed. They are like artifacts from someplace else, telling stories about other worlds”.

Design of the narration “help each other”
The original of the narrative „The Clone Technology“ comes from an old fable story: the story of the blind and the lame. When the blind man met a lame, they decided to help each other. The blind man became the leg of the lame man, and the lame man became the blind man’s eye so that they could carry on. This story can be simplified as: Two subjects, each with their own mistakes, help each other to achieve one together.

Focus on stage
The exchange of memories is at the core of the whole story. We have to arrange the protagonists on the stage of this action. First of all, men are the protagonist clones as participant and experiencer of this ritual. Next, the form and vessel of memory should be determined. Daily objects that get along with us become the best memorial. What is missing in the end is how the core storyline comes about in which the design is to take place. In ancient China and West Asia, there was a negotiation ritual called „the gold in sleeve“. Two businessmen act through the sign language in their sleeves. Following this ancient ritual, the two clones exchange objects to complete the sharing of memories.
Cloning in the future has changed the focus of the story from blind and lame with specific characteristics to a larger and more universal context. Memory is an abstract, complex experience that comes back to life. The exchange of memories is considered the most important act in the narration in order to make room for the insertion of daily objects. The attitude of dividing the memory into two parts offers the narrative more options.

Speculative Design / Berlin / 2020

Yuhang Ke

The story of clone technology
1. In 2120, after deliberation by the UN, human cloning technology was allowed to be put into use.
2. People who lived 100 years ago can also be cloned.
3. However, due to technological limitations, humans cannot clone complete memories. Memories can only be divided into two clones.
4. To get a complete memory, the two clones must help each other and exchange the memory.
5. But how?
6. It turns out that daily objects in life have become a carrier of memory. These objects hold memories from 100 years ago. Human clones can exchange memories by exchanging daily objects.
7. This device allows clones to exchange daily items to complete memory sharing.
8. Human clones can also share memories by exchanging huge objects, such as houses.
9. With the help of everyday objects, the clones receive a complete memory.
10. This is the story of cloning technology.
11. Hmmm… …
12. This is really an interesting book, isn’t it?
13. Now you know why we value everyday objects because they are the bearers of our memories. If you want your clones to be able to exchange memories with each other after 100 years, you should treat everyday objects well from now on.
14. And this is the story about “The power of ordinary”.

Yuhang Ke

The power of ordinary
Just like the allegorical story of the blind and the lame, the blind and the lame are only the representative protagonists of their own history, but in history of „cloning technology“ is about helping each other. The goal of the narrative „cloning technology“ is not to discuss future technologies and the ethics of human cloning, but to show the power of daily objects. Daily objects as participants and witnesses of our life. They have a very close connection (memory) with us, and although their strength is not noticeable, they are so strong and can keep memories alive.

More Information

Yuhang Ke
Yuhang Ke