Memo Akten

Memo Akten
Born1975 (age 49–50)
Istanbul, Turkey
CitizenshipTurkish
Alma materBoğaziçi University (BSc), Goldsmiths, University of London (PhD)
OccupationsMultidisciplinary artist, Computer scientist & Researcher
Websitewww.memo.tv

Memo Akten (born 1975) is a Turkish-born multidisciplinary artist, computer scientist and researcher.[1] His work explores human machine entanglements through speculative simulations and data dramatizations, often engaging with themes of ecology, technology, spirituality, and collective intelligence.[1] He serves as assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego.[2]

Early life and education

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1975, Akten holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul.[3] Later in 2021 he completed a PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London in Artificial Intelligence, in which he developed what he calls “Deep Visual Instruments”: interactive systems that use deep neural networks as a creative medium, while ensuring real-time, continuous, and meaningful human control.[4]

Career

Akten’s practice spans a wide variety of media, including moving images, sound, poetry, dance, light, performance, and installations.[5] In 2011, he co-founded the art-technology studio Marshmallow Laser Feast where he worked as creative and technical director.[6] He left the studio in 2014 to focus on his PhD and his personal research.[4] Akten’s technical and artistic leadership spans early works involving interactive real-time projection mapping, light and laser control, as well as later works that engage deeply with deep neural networks and Artificial Intelligence.[7]

In the field of academics, Akten is currently an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego.[2] He has presented research at major conferences, including NeurIPS and SIGGRAPH, connecting his artistic practice to scientific inquiry.[4] In 2024, he co-founded Superradiance Lab with Katie Hofstadter, establishing an interdisciplinary research space that explores consciousness, intelligence, and planetary systems through embodied experience and emerging technologies.[8]

Akten’s work has been exhibited at venues such as the Venice Biennale, Barbican, Grand Palais, Mori Art Museum, Tretyakov Gallery, and others.[9][10] His works are held in collections including Borusan Contemporary, the Guy & Myriam Ullens Foundation and the Vanhaerents Art Collection.[4][11]

Akten has collaborated with notable figures and brands including U2, Depeche Mode, Lenny Kravitz, Richard Dawkins, Google, Apple, Twitter, and Sony.[12] He has served as a mentor and jury member for international conferences and awards, including Ars Electronica, SIGGRAPH, and Google Arts & Culture.[12]

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b Lisa Deaderick,"Artists create connections between the way humans dance and nature moves in 'Superradiance'". sandiegouniontribune.com. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Art Exhibit Explores Distributed Consciousness at the UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute". today.ucsd.edu. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  3. ^ Joe McAlister, Dan Barnard,"Memo Akten interview: The Networked Condition". workroom.fastfamiliar.com. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Anna Cafolla,"Memo Akten's art sees artificial intelligence tackle life, love, and faith". dazeddigital.com. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  5. ^ Jonathan Jones,"'I've seen more self-aware ants!' AI: More Than Human – review". theguardian.com. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Meet Marshmallow Laser Feast And Their Interactive Musical Laser Forest". vice.com. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Machine Learning Art: An Interview With Memo Akten". artnome.com. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Explore the Relationship Between Our Bodies, Nature and Planetary Consciousness". outernet.com. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  9. ^ Jessica Gelt and Carren Jao,"The busy person's guide to PST 'Art & Science Collide' exhibitions". latimes.com. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  10. ^ Matthew Plummer-Fernandez,"Bots vs. AI: Two Kinds of Software Art Take Different Approaches to the Digital Commons". artnews.com. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  11. ^ Erica Silverman,"Best of Venice Exhibitions: Pierre Huyghe, Memo Akten, Zeng Fanzhi, and More". benbrownfinearts.com. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Memo Akten is an artist, researcher and philomath from Istanbul". ullens-foundation.com. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Prix Ars Electronica: The Winners 2013". ars.electronica.art. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Embodied Simulation Official Selection - Immersive". tribecafilm.com. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
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