IMA | lab No. 25: Stelios Manousakis

Stelios Manousakis is currently guest artist at the ZKM | Institute for Music and Acoustics, and in discussion with Ludger Brümmer he will give insights into his work on a new system of spatial detection of the human body and its movements.

Manousakis’ system measures the changes − triggered by the movements of the human body − occurring in the flow of usual wifi-waves and, furthermore, takes up the inaudible or invisible communication between end devices, such as Smartphones, otherwise imperceptible to the human being. This interest in the physical, but invisible radio spaces of wifi-networks and their interaction with architecture, objects and the human body led to the discovery of an obscure surveillance technology which, when rebuilt for artistic purposes, can then be applied to performative and installative works.

With his work, the composer, performer, sound artist and researcher operates at the interface of art, science and technology, between composition, performance and installation, and draws on the rich legacy of western art music and idioms of the ‘digital people’. His work encompasses musical compositions − predominantly with live electronics, intermedial and sound art installations, as well as fixed media pieces and film music. Many of these works connect algorithmic finesse with improvisational expressiveness or direct public involvement. Frequently designed as emerging (eco) systems or organisms and, through the artistic reinvention of new models from complex theory, cybernetics, biology and games theory, they visualize rich, organic worlds.

He is currently in the final phases of his doctorate in fine art and the performing art at the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS, University of Washington, Seattle, USA).