Memo Akten

Memo Akten is an artist from Istanbul studying and working with complex systems, behaviour, algorithms and software. Combining critical and conceptual approaches with investigations into form, movement and sound, he creates data dramatisations of natural and anthropogenic processes, exploring the collisions between nature, science, technology, culture, ethics, ritual, tradition and religion. He collaborates across many disciplines spanning video, sound, light, dance, software, online works, installations and performances. Alongside his practice, he is currently working towards a PhD at Goldsmiths University of London, in artificial intelligence and expressive human-machine interaction, exploring collaborative co-creativity between humans and machines for artistic expression.

Akten received the Prix Ars Electronic Golden Nica in 2013 for his collaboration with Quayola, ‘Forms’. Past exhibitions and performances include the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Royal Opera House, London; Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow; La Gaîté lyrique, Paris; Holon Design Museum, Israel and the EYE Film Institute, Amsterdam. His work has also been featured in books, academic papers, magazines and websites such as Wallpaper*, Dazed, Eye magazine, Guardian, BBC, Financial Times, Wired and Dezeen.

Cross disciplinary collaboration is core to Memo’s practice and during his residency, he will explore new partnerships focused on art forms he has not yet worked with.