Adam Donovan
Adam Donovan is a media artist whose collaborative work brings human interaction and artificial intelligence into robotic-swarm installations. He begins researching focused acoustics in 1996 and exhibits Perimetry at the 2002 Adelaide Biennial. His projects move from sound-focused psychophysics machines and acoustic levitation to participatory robot swarms. As of October 2026, he works with Katrin Hochschuh on Interconnected, a project scheduled at the Deutsches Theatermuseum in January 2027.
Timeline
-
1996
Focused acoustics research
He begins researching focused acoustics and acoustic lenses in 1996 to create interactive sound installations.
-
2002
Perimetry at Adelaide
In 2002, he exhibits Perimetry at the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art.
-
2003
Primavera 2003
He appears in Primavera 2003, the annual MCA exhibition for Australian artists aged 35 and under, which responds to new media technologies.
-
2014
Psychophysics Machines
At ISEA2014, he presents Psychophysics Machines, an installation of five acoustic physics robots that uses sound focusing and anti-Doppler shifts.
-
2016–2017
Robotic Cosmogony
In 2016–2017, he leads Robotic Cosmogony at the Museum of Digital Art in Zurich; its two robotic arms use acoustic levitation to move particles without contact.
-
February 2026
Interconnected and AI
With Katrin Hochschuh, he develops Interconnected, a participatory robot swarm controlled through human interaction and artificial intelligence. The duo plans a presentation in Witten in February 2026.
-
As of October 2026
Interconnected at Deutsches Theatermuseum
As of October 2026, he works with Katrin Hochschuh as a media-art duo, and they are scheduled to present Interconnected at the Deutsches Theatermuseum in January 2027.
Sources and credits
Photo: zkm.de; Adam Donovan | ZKM; creator not stated. License: Not stated by source. Source: zkm.de. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.