#memoakten

Forms (excerpt)

Memo Akten is an artist from Istanbul, based in London, UK. His work explores the harmonies and tensions between nature, science, technology, culture and tradition. Studying and working with complex systems, behaviour and algorithms, he creates data dramatizations of natural and anthropogenic processes, and combines conceptual work with investigations into form, movement and sound. Akten’s work spans many disciplines including 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 artistic, expressive human-machine interaction. Fascinated by trying to understand the world and human nature, he investigates technology’s role in learning more about ourselves and how we connect with each other. He draws inspiration from fields such as quantum mechanics, astrophysics, molecular & evolutionary biology, abiogenesis, neuroscience, anthropology and philosophy.

Akten received the Prix Ars Electronic Golden Nica in 2013 for his collaboration with Quayola, ‘Forms’. His work has been featured in books, academic papers, magazines and websites such as Wallpaper*, Dazed, Eye magazine, Guardian, BBC, Financial Times, Wired and Dezeen. Since 2009 his works ‘Body Paint’ and ‘Gold’ have toured with the Victoria & Albert Museum’s ‘Decode’ exhibition. In 2014 his work with Marshmallow Laser Feast ‘Laser Forest’ was part of the Barbican’s ‘Digital Revolutions’ exhibition. Other exhibitions and performances include Royal Opera House (London, UK), Garage Center for Contemporary Culture (Moscow, RU), La Gaîté lyrique (Paris, FR), Holon Museum (Tel Aviv, IL), EYE Film Institute (Amsterdam, NL), STRP Biennial (Eindhoven, NL), FILE Festival (Sao Paolo, Rio, BR) and Lisbon Architecture Triennale (Lisbon, PT).