Cyanne van den Houten is a queer media artist based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and founder of the art-meets-tech collective Telemagic (www.telemagic.online). Van den Houten´s practice revolves around the parallels between magic and technology, exploring the synthetic connection between humans and machines. It is a playful intuitive place where they hack current low and high technologies to understand how things work. With a background as a (graphic) designer (MA Arts in Design at Sandberg Instituut), Van den Houten’s way of working has a design research mentality and a foundation in media theory, where the machine is always in control over the outcome. Self-built generative systems, chance-based procedures, ever-changing data streams and co-creation with (non)human actors are deeply embedded in her creative practice. Telemagic perform concerts led by artificial intelligence, make interactive installations that dream through museum archives and generative oracles that predict possible futures.
Van den Houten’s aleatory.agent residency project aims to explore the integration of algorithmic chance operations in the creation of visual art through computer-controlled machines. Unlike typical AI art tools, this project emphasizes the physical interaction between the artist, audience, and machine, developing playful methodologies that embrace the unexpected with algorithms as the primary creative force. The outcome will be a toolkit of animistic instruments playable during performances, introducing randomness to guide both robots (like 3d printers, CNC cutters, drawing bots and plotters) and myself in real-time creation.
Cyanne van den Houten was an UmArts TAIGA Artist Researcher in Residence in January 2025 developing new Art and AI micro-projects investigating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as part of the Art and AI Working Group.