World premiere of the Hermeneutic Machine Variations at notFair, Melbourne
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HMV at the notFair 2026
The premier performance of a new automated-sound-system (ASS) at Melbourne’s fringe art fair between 14 – 23 February, 2026. Three long-form autonomous ‘variations’ of exisiting vinyl records occurred during the exhibition, alongside two large sound-reactive soft-sculptures (cone and sphere). These sound-works are the first Hermeneutic Machine Variations created by the system (simply called HMV-I, HMV-II, and HMV-III) and will be available in the artworks section of this platform presently.
Hermeneutic Machine Variation, [Installation view], 2026, Various, Various, Karen ann Donnachie & Andy Simionato.
Hermeneutic Machine Variation, [Installation view], 2026, Various, Various, Karen ann Donnachie & Andy Simionato.
Hermeneutic Machine Variation, [Installation view], 2026, Various, Various, Karen ann Donnachie & Andy Simionato.
HMV at notFair, [Installation view with inflatable monoliths and robotic phonograph], 2026, ballistic nylon, industrial air-blowers, robotic phonograph, electronics, Various, Karen ann Donnachie & Andy Simionato.
HMV at notFair, [Installation view with robotic phonograph], 2026, ballistic nylon, industrial air-blowers, robotic phonograph, electronics, Various, Karen ann Donnachie & Andy Simionato.
) The Center for Computational Unknowing
Legal notice
At the CCU we practice many experimental art techniques of appropriation, including computational collage where existing publications and artefacts (including books, magazines, audio and video recordings) and other found matter, are 'cut-up' and recombined into new works. The use of these found materials means that parts of the original may be included in the final artworks and/or process documentation. In such cases, we acknowledge the use of the original somewhere in the didactic description or directly within the work itself. However, any inclusion of the found work, or part thereof, in the final artwork should not imply any endorsement of the CCU by the original publication's authors or publishers. All enquiries should be directed to our offices: contact@unknowing.cc
Acknowledgements
All artworks and texts, unless otherwise stated, are published courtesy the artists, 'Donnachie, Simionato & Sons' (2024). Visual and textual materials on this site may only be reproduced for scholarly purposes and with citations. Please forward all enquiries to contact@unknowing.cc
Many of the automated-art-systems in the CCU utilise open-source software and hardware which would not exist without the contribution of their respective communities. Special thanks to Processing (Java and Javascript); arduino (C++) and Raspberry Pi systems; Python; Inkscape.
Official publishing partners to the CCU. At www.AtomicActivity.com you can find limited editions from the Library of Nonhuman Books, as well as art multiples from many of the CCU's other automated-art-systems. Explore the entire catalogue of books and objects at the Atomic Activity website, or from selected bookstores.
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