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Based in Melbourne, Australia, Adam Nash is a digital artist, composer, programmer, performer, teacher and writer. He works with the digital as site of playable art. Working in a post-convergent idiom, his work uses the web, game engines, virtual environments, generative and procedural programming, data and motion capture, artificial intelligence, synthetic evolution, audio, vision and live performance.
His work has been presented in galleries, festivals and online in Australia, Europe, Asia and The Americas, including SIGGRAPH, ISEA, 01SJ, the Venice Biennale, and the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
He was the recipient of the inaugural Australia Council Multi-User Virtual Environment Artist in Residence grant. He has been artist in residence at Ars Electronica FutureLab. He was shortlisted for the National Art Award in New Media at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
He was awarded an Australia Council Connections Residency, with colleague John McCormick. For this, they founded SquareTangle , now called Wild System, developing AI-driven performative collaborations between virtual environments and robots.
He has worked as composer and sound artist with Company In Space (AU) and Gibson/Martelli (UK), exploring the integration of motion capture into realtime 3D audiovisual spaces.
He was awarded a PhD from the Centre for Animation and Interactive Media at RMIT University, Melbourne, researching multi-user virtual environments as post-convergent media.
He was Associate Professor of Virtual Interior in the Interior Design Discipline of the School of Architecture and Urban Design at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Previously he was Associate Dean, Digital Design, in the School of Design at RMIT Univeristy, Melbourne, Australia.
At the end of 2021, he retired from academia and art-making to concentrate on life.
His academic writing explores the ontology and the aesthetics of the digital, as well as the connection between the digital and philosophical notions of the virtual. As a PhD supervisor, he specialises in practice-based research of playable digital art.
He was composer, programmer and performer with precision-absurdist performance art group The Men Who Knew Too Much from 1994-2002, including several national and international tours. He has performed drums, keyboards and vocals with many musical groups and bands in Australia and Japan, including Japanese noise-chaos collective Proud Flesh, Melbourne electro-dub outfit Half Yellow, Melbourne's Fink Finster and The Brass Bed, Brisbane’s Choo Dikka Dikka (responsible for the legendary underground hit ‘Cyclone Hits Expo’) and Melbourne Concrete Poetry group Arf Arf, among others.
He has been a writer and reviewer for Digital Media World magazine, and editor of the Computers and Internet department at LookSmart. He was also a Project Officer at com.IT, a community charity he helped to establish that recycles computers and redistributes them for free to not-for-profit organisations domestically and overseas.
2022
Retired from art-making and academia, to concentrate on life.
2021
Aurora Australis Ultimo Choro, by Wild System, VR installation. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery', SIGGRAPH Asia, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan.
Aurora Australis Ultimo Choro, by Wild System, VR installation. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'Swinburne Studio', Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Melbourne, Australia.
Antarctica Breaking, by Wild System, Multi-screen 'slow tv' video installation. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'Polar Patterns', Melbourne Design Week, Capitol Theatre, Melbourne, Australia.
2020
Australian Antarctic Division Arts Fellowship, by Wild System, Arts residency, RV Aurora Australis final Antarctic voyage. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'Aurora Australis', Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
2019
Neuron Conductor, by Wild System, Biological neuron/electrode array-driven robot installation with motion-based generative sound. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'Model Citizen', RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.
2018
Eve of Dust, by Wild System, collaborative installation and performance between industrial robot and human dancer. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery', Tokyo International Forum, Japan.
Child in the Wild, by Wild System, interactive robot and virtual environment with artificial intelligence. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'Data Is Nothing', RMIT Black Box Gallery, Melbourne.
2017
Child in the Wild, by Wild System, interactive robot and virtual environment with artificial intelligence. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. 'Microbytes of Innovation: Art Track of ACM Creativity and Cognition (CC2017)', ArtScience Museum, Singapore.
2016
Convolution, by Wild System, interactive robot and virtual environment with artificial intelligence. Co-designer, co-programmer, composer. SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery 2016, Macau, China.
Ramonia Retrospective, Custom WoM grid, set of reatime 3D multi-user works in retrospective 'tribute' to my 'Adam Ramona' works of the 2000s. Designer, programmer, composer. For 40th anniversary of MVM exhibition, ARTE ES DIGITAL. DIGITAL ES ARTE, Museo Vostell Malpartida, Spain, 2016.
Pure Absence – single player art music game, generative realtime 3D displayed in 4K dome. Designer, programmer, composer. In Design and Play exhibition, RMIT Design Hub Gallery, Melbourne.
Out Of Space – head mounted virtual reality and motion capture artwork. Designer, programmer, composer. In Design and Play exhibition, RMIT Design Hub Gallery, Melbourne.
2015
Out Of Space – head mounted virtual reality and motion capture artwork. Designer, programmer, composer. In Everything Is Data exhibition, NTU ADM Gallery 1, Singapore.
2014
Distributed Empire – web-based interactive audiovisual work. Co-designer, programmer, composer. Big Screen, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia, web.
2013
Recognition – motion-capture interactive audiovisual work. Co-designer, programmer, composer, collaboration with John McCormick, as SquareTangle. Cube37 Gallery, Frankston Arts Centre, Vic, AU.
Distributed Empire – web-based interactive audiovisual work. Co-designer, programmer, composer. ISEA2013, Sydney and Darwin (public large screens), web.
2012
Love Like Rain – Touch-based audiovisual ambience generation toy, for iOS and Android devices. Apple App Store, Google Play.
2011
Reproduction – interactive realtime 3D installation. Screen Space Gallery, Melbourne, AU. Collaboration with John McCormick, as SquareTangle. Sound Designer, Programmer, Artist..
ACVA presents Terra Virtualis @ ISEA2011. Curated group exhibition of Australia’s leading virtual artists. Curator. ISEA 2011, Istanbul, Turkey.
Visitor – interactive realtime 3D installation. Djanogly Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham UK. Collaboration with Gibson/Martelli. Sound Designer, Composer.
Visitor – interactive realtime 3D installation. Apthorp Gallery, London, UK. Collaboration with Gibson/Martelli. Sound Designer, Composer.
Artist In Residence – Wyndham City Council. Australia. Collaboration with John McCormick (as SquareTangle).
2010
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford, Australia. Designer, programmer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. NAFA, Nanyang Academy, Singapore. Designer, programmer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Designer, programmer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Bundaberg Arts Centre, Bundaberg, Australia. 14 July – 29 August 2010. Designer, programmer.
Reproduction (Artist in Residence work in progress) – immersive evolving virtual environment. Neutral Ground Gallery, Saskatchewan, Canada. Collaboration with John McCormick (as SquareTangle). Programmer, designer, sound designer, composer. July 2010.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. QUT creative industries precinct, Brisbane, Australia. 27 April – 15 May 2010. Designer, programmer.
Bodies for Motion – Group exhbition, part of Drawing Out 2010 Transdisciplinary Conference on Drawing. Field36 Gallery, , Melbourne, Australia. 7 April – 16 April 2010. Drawings.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns, Australia. 19 March – 16 May 2010. Designer, programmer.
ACVALab – lab and workshop for emerging virtual artists. Funded by Australia Council Digital Culture Fund. January 18 – 20, 2010. Designer, Facilitator.
Artist in Residence – Futurelab, Ars Electronica. Collaboration with John McCormick. Artist, designer, programmer, sound designer, composer.
2009
Autoscopia – National Portrait Gallery of Australia. Designer, Programmer, Modeller, Composer, Sound Artist.
FMODUnity – Audio software plugin for 3D Virtual Environments. Collaboration with John McCormick (as SquareTangle). Designer, Programmer.
Australia Council Connections Residency – Artist-in-Residence at Hidden Cove Solutions, Melbourne, Australia. Collaboration with John McCormick (as SquareTangle).
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillimbah, Australia. Designer, programmer.
Australia Council Inter-Arts Grant. Cloud Cabinet. Interactive, networked audiovisual physical sculptures with custom software.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Hazelhurst Gallery, Gymea, Australia. Designer, programmer.
2008
National Art Award in New Media – Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. Seventeen Unsung Songs. Designer, Programmer, Modeller, Composer, Sound Artist.
Swan Quake: House – Interactive 3D installation. V22 Gallery, London, UK. Collaboration with Gibson/Martelli. Sound Designer, Composer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait. Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Australia. Designer, programmer.
Ways To Wave – Mixed Reality Realtime 3D Interactive Audiovisual Installation.
Zero1 Festival, San Jose Museum of Art and in Second Life. Designer, Programmer, Modeller, Composer, Sound Artist.
Trace Aureity – Realtime 3D Interactive Audiovisual Installation in Second Life. Turbulence Commission - a commission of Networked_Music_Review, with funding from the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Programmer, Designer, Modeller, Composer, Sound Artist.
BabelSwarm – Mixed Reality Realtime 3D Interactive Installation. Simultaneosuly at Lismore Regional Gallery and in Second Life. Designer, Programmer, Modeller, Composer, Sound Artist.
2007
Seventeen Unsung Songs – Multi-user Realtime 3D Installation in Second Life. East of Odyssey, Second Life. Designer, Programmer, Modeller, Composer, Sound Artist.
Summerbranch – Realtime 3D Game & Video Installation by Gibson/Martelli. Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy. June 2007. Composer, Sound Artist.
Cavern – realtime 3D immersive interactive audiovisual sculpture. Second Life, Big Pond island, Commission by Telstra Big Pond. Designer, programmer, modeller, composer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait, net.art. Macro Contemporary Art Museum, Rosario, Argentina ://selfportrait – a show for Bethlehem. Designer, programmer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait, net.art. Casoria Contemporary Art Museum, Naples, Italy ://selfportrait – a show for Bethlehem. Designer, programmer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait, net.art. Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Santa Fe, Argentina ://selfportrait – a show for Bethlehem. Designer, programmer.
2006
in3face – interactive digital portrait, net.art. Al Kahf Art Gallery at Bethlehem International Center/Palestine ://selfportrait – a show for Bethlehem. Designer, programmer.
Back Strikes Empire – Dual screen DVD Installation by Gibson/Martelli, Waterman’s Gallery, London, UK. Part of the Node.L Media Arts Festival, London, UK. Composer, Sound Artist, Performer.
Summerbranch – Realtime 3D/Video Installation by Gibson/Martelli, Artsway Gallery, Sway, Hampshire, UK. Composer, Sound Artist
2005
Scorched Happiness – live multi-user & single-user realtime 3D performance.
Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide, Australia. Director, Designer, Composer, Programmer, Performer.
Pale Shining Winter –single-user interactive realtime 3D audiovisual work. Folly Gallery, Lancaster UK. Designer, Composer, Programmer.
Pale Shining Winter –single-user interactive realtime 3D audiovisual work. Web3DArt 2005, selected by jury. Bangor, Wales UK. Designer, Composer, Programmer.
Scorched Happiness – live multi-user & single-user realtime 3D performance. Thailand New Media Art Festival 2005. Director, Designer, Composer, Programmer, Performer.
SwanQuake by Gibson/Martelli – Multi-user performance art using Unreal engine. London, UK. Composer.
2004
Sentient Space by Company In Space, Igloo & Adam Nash – Live motion capture controlled realtime 3D performance,Centre for AstroPhysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University. Composer.
Scorched Happiness – live multi-user realtime 3D performance, 2004 – Australian Culture Now exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria, Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Director, Designer, Composer, Programmer, Performer.
Liquid Architecture 5 Festival – specially commissioned version of Chromacy:Blue. Melbourne Planetarium. Composer, Programmer, Performer.
Chromacy – Interactive 3D sound sculpture, Selected by jury for Web3DArt 2004, an official part of SIGGRAPH. Designer, Composer, Programmer.
In3face, Far South East of the Soul, Old Souls Knew – interactive artworks. Selected for i-ocean, survey of Asia-Pacific net art, a part of the Thailand New Media Art Festival. Designer, Programmer.
2003
Chromacy: Blue – interactive 3D sound sculpture, InterSculpt, multi-sited exhibition, Manchester, UK; Paris, France; Montreal, Canada; Composer, Programmer.
in3face – interactive digital portrait, net.art collaboration with Mami Yamanaka, [self]-representation online exhibition, Le Musee Divisioniste, Paris, France. Designer, Programmer.
Memory Plains Returning – interactive 3D sound sculpture, FILE WebArt 2003, Sao Paolo, Brasil. Designer, Composer, Programmer.
Memory Plains Returning – Live performance multi-user version. Multi-sited performance, Lab3D UK: Folly Gallery, Lancaster UK, Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester UK, Watershed Gallery, Bristol UK, Melbourne Australia. Designer, Composer, Programmer, Performer.
Memory Plains Returning – interactive 3D sound sculpture, Selected by jury for Web3DArt 2003. Designer, Composer, Programmer.
2002
in3face – interactive digital portrait, net.art collaboration with Mami Yamanaka. Designer, Programmer.
Virtual Humanoids – live and online performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Commissioned by Digital Summer UK, as part of CultureShock festival for the Commonwealth Games, Manchester UK. Composer, Programmer, Video Editor, Performer.
2001
Virtual Humanoids – live and online performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. GammaSpace Gallery, Melbourne, Australia. Composer, VR & Web Programmer, Video Editor, Performer.
2000
Virtual Humanoids – live and online performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Performance season at Melbourne Planetarium. Supported by Australia Council and Arts Victoria. Composer, VR & Web Programmer, Video Editor, Performer.
1998
Virtual Humanoids – live and online performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Work in progress performance at Interact98: Culture Track, Melburne Exhibition Centre. Composer, VR & Web Programmer, Video Editor, Performer.
VideoHeads – live performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Singapore International Festival of Arts. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
Virtual Humanoids – live and online performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Work in progress performance at Next Wave Festival, Melbourne. Composer, VR & Web Programmer, Video Editor, Performer.
1997 – 2000
Half Yellow – Electro Dub Band, Melbourne. Many performances at pubs, clubs, festivals, including Earthcore NYE Y2K. Drums, samples.
1997
Ascent of Suit – live performance art piece. Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Victorian Performing Arts Centre, Melbourne. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
Ascent of Suit – live performance art piece. Northern Rivers Performing Arts Festival,
Lismore, NSW, Australia. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
1996
Zen Cowboys – live performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Singapore International Festival of Arts. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
Suit Show – live performance art piece. Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Budinski’s, Melbourne. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
Zen Cowboys, VideoHeads, Suit Show, – live performance art pieces by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Adelaide Fringe Festival of Arts. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
1995
VideoHeads – live performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Multiculturalism South Seminar, Tokyo Japan. Composer, Web Programmer.
Zen Cowboys, VideoHeads, Suit Show – live performance art pieces by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Erlabnis Australien Festival, Berlin, Cologne, Bonn, Germany. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
Tea & It’s Effects on an Idyll Mind – commissioned short film by The Men Who Knew Too Much. SBS-TV, Australia Composer, Performer.
Stairway to Heaven and the Plane of Flesh – live performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Melbourne International Festival of Arts. Composer, Web Programmer, Performer.
Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy – live performance piece by NYID (Not Yet Its Difficult), Melbourne Australia. Composer/Sound Artist
Theatre of Hell – performance art group, Melbourne, Australia. Web Programmer.
1994
Tea Ceremony – live performance art piece by The Men Who Knew Too Much. Melbourne International Festival of Arts. Composer, Performer.
1986 - 1993
Proud Flesh – Noise Art Collective, Choo Dikka Dikka – indie band, Arf Arf – sound Art performance group. Many performances at clubs, galleries, festivals. Japan, Australia. Composer, drums, keyboards, vocals.