Marco Donnarumma

b. 1984, Italy. Lives and works in Berlin.
Artist, inventor, and theorist.
Co-founder of performance group Fronte Vacuo.
Composer, producer and musician with Dadub and Leiche.

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Marco Donnarumma is an artist working with the human body, sound, and technology. His practice, manifested in the form of performances, installations, films, and photography, maps areas of contamination across art & technology, contemporary performance, and music. Working interchangeably as a sound and visual artist, performer, choreographer, and theater maker, he presents his work on stage, in concert halls, museums, and galleries. An inventor with expertise in engineering, computing, and biomechanics, over the past fifteen years he has worked with machine learning, AI, physiological sensors, robotics, and prosthetics, creating machines that turn the body into a site of resistance and transformation.

Donnarumma’s work challenges normative body politics with sensual and uncompromising experiences. Through resonant counter-narratives, his artworks recount of bodies always in tension between control and agency, presence and absence, grace and monstrosity. Named by Der Standard a pioneer in the field of advanced technologies and performing arts, he is best known for evocative bodily experimentations that probe the fragility of human-machine integration. His choreographic practice relies on somatic improvisation with body-worn machines and interactive sound. His installation work often focuses on visceral encounters between uncanny machines and human perception.

His work has been presented in thirty six countries across Asia, Europe, South America and US including, among others, Ars Electronica, Linz; CENART – Centro National de las Artes, Mexico City; Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània, Valencia; Chronus Art Center, Shanghai; European Theater Forum, Opole; Experimental Intermedia, New York; Goethe-Institut, Beijing; Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin; Haus der Elektronische Künste – HeK, Basel; international tanzmesse nrw, Düsseldorf; IRCAM, Paris; Kontejner, Zagreb; LABoral Centro de Arte, Gijón; Ming Contemporary Art Museum – McaM, Shanghai; Münchner Kammerspiele, Munich; Oi Futuro, Belo Horizonte; ORF musikprotokoll im steirischen herbst, Graz; PACT Zollverein, Essen; Reykjavík Art Museum; Sónar +D, Barcelona; tanzhaus nrw, Düsseldorf; Volkstheater, Vienna; Wiener Festwochen, Vienna; World New Music Days, Antwerp; Zentrum für Kunst und Medien – ZKM, Karlsruhe; ZER01NE, Seoul.

A regular presence at festivals and biennials, his most notable presentations took place at CTM Festival, Berlin; Donaufestival, Krems; FILE, Sao Paulo; ISEA, Albuquerque; Meta.Morf Biennale, Trondheim; NEMO Biennale, Paris; New York Electronic Arts Festival; WRO Biennial, Warsaw; Panorama Festival, Rio de Janeiro; transmediale, Berlin; West Bund Biennale, Shanghai.

His work earned numerous accolades, among which a ZER01NE Creator Grant 2024; a Digitalive Award 2018 by Romaeuropa Festival for Eingeweide with Margherita Pevere; a Performing Arts Award and a Jury Award at the Bains Numériques Biennial 2018, as well as an Award of Distinction in Sound Art (second prize) at Prix Ars Electronica 2017 for Corpus Nil. He was named Artist of the Science Year 2018 by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education for Amygdala and won first prize in the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition 2012 for the XTH Sense. His work has been funded by the European Research Commission, Goethe-Institut, Fonds Darstellende Künste, Berlin Senate, and the Rockefeller Foundation, among others.

He writes on music, performance, and technology, integrating aesthetics, feminist studies, and critical theory with scientific research. His writings are published, among the others, in ACM Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Music Journal, Frontiers in Computer Science, Performance Research and cultural outlets such as Hyperallergic and Furtherfield. His next book chapter with Elizabeth Jochum will appear in “Robot Theaters” (Routledge). Donnarumma holds a Ph.D. in performing arts, computing, and body theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. He is an Associate Researcher at the Intelligent Instruments Lab, Reykjavik and was a fellow at the Berlin University of the Arts and the Academy for Theater and Digitality.

Education & Research

2022/25 Research Associate, Intelligent Instruments Lab, IS
2020/21 Research Fellow, Academy for Theater and Digitality
in partnership with Theater Dortmund, DE
2016/18 Research Fellow, Berlin University of the Arts
in partnership with the Neurorobotics Research Laboratory at Beuth-Hochschule, Berlin, DE
2012/16 Ph.D. Arts & Computational Technology, Goldsmiths, University of London. Supervisors: Atau Tanaka, Matthew Fuller. Examiners: Lisa Blackman, Sergi Jordà.
2010/12 MScR with Honors Sound Design, University of Edinburgh
2004/07 BA with Honors New Technologies for the Arts, Venice Academy of Fine Arts

Awards

2025 Niranthea, Honorary Mention, Experimental Forum, Intern. Film & Video Art Festival, US
2021 Amygdala, First Prize in Art Category, Magic Machine Award, RosyDX, C. Rockefeller Center, Netzwerk Medien Kunst and Technische Sammlungen Dresden, DE
2018 Eingeweide, w/ Margherita Pevere, First Prize, Digital Award, Romaeuropa Festival, IT
2018 Corpus Nil, First Prize for Performing Arts / Prix “Adami”, Bains Numériques Biennial, FR
2018 Corpus Nil, First Prize of the Press Jury / Prix “Presse”, Bains Numériques Biennial, FR
2018 Amygdala, Wissenschaftsjahr Preis for Art and Science, German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and Wissenschaft im Dialog, DE
2017 Corpus Nil, Award of Distinction (second Prize) for Sound Art, Prix Ars Electronica, AT
2017 Corpus Nil, Nomination, Ars Electronica STARTS Prize, AT
2014 Nigredo, First Prize, Cynetart Award for Computer Based Art, DE
2013 Nigredo, Second Prize, TransitioMX Award for New Media Art, MX
2012 XTH Sense/Music for Flesh II, First Prize, Margaret Guthman New Musical Instrument Competition, US
2006 TheSAD, First Prize, Bersi la Musica, Live Electronic Music Competition, IT
2005 Autoctono by Chiglia:e:remi, Contest Winner, italian eXperimental electronic music and mixed media, IT

Grants

2024 ZER01NE Creator Project Funding, ZER01NE + Hyundai, KR
2023 NEUSTART KULTUR #TakeHeart Residency Funding, Fonds Darstellende Künste. In partnership with tanzhaus nrw / Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser, DE
2022-23 Medienkunst Fellowship, Medienwerk.nrw, DE
2022 NEUSTART KULTUR #TakeHeart Residency Funding, Fonds Darstellende Künste. In partnership with tanzhaus nrw / Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser, DE
2020/22 AUTONOM Production Grant, Fonds Darstellende Künste, DE
2020/21 Kofinanzierungsfonds, Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe, DE
2018 Goethe-Institut, International Coproduction Fund
in partnership with CTM Festival, Chronus Art Center and Nunu Kong, Berlin, DE / Shanghai, CN.
2012/14 Fellowship, Creativity + Technology = Enterprise, Harvestworks and The Rockefeller Foundation, US
2012/15 European Research Council (ERC) Scholarship, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
2012 Andrew Grant Bequest Fund, Edinburgh College of Art, UK
2012 Alt-w Production Grant, New Media Scotland, UK
2011 Creative Scotland International Funding, UK

Commissions

2025 LAS Art Foundation, New Work Commission for Lestes, DE
2022/24 Volkstheater Wien, Commission for a new cycle of 6 productions for the series Humane Methods by Fronte Vacuo, AT
2019 CDA Enghien & Romaeuropa Festival, New Work Commission for Humane Methods, FR/IT
2017/18 CTM Festival, New Work Commission for Eingeweide, DE
2015 4DSound, New Work Commission and Residency for 0-Infinity, HU
2014 transmediale / Art Hack Day, New Work Commission for Septic, DE
2013 STEIM, New Work Commission and Residency for Nigredo, NL
2012 European Conference of Promoters of New Music, New Work Commission for Ominous, BE
2011 Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance, Artistic Residency, DK
2011 New Media Scotland, Work Development and Residency, UK
2005 Laboratory of Stage Arts, New Work Technical Development, LV

Selected Performances

An * indicates a world premiere. A complete list of performances can be viewed here.

2024 Ex Silens, Edinburgh Futures Institute, UK
2024 Ex Silens, MESH Festival, HeK Basel, CH
2024 MURMUR, iii + Conflux Festival, The Hague/Rotterdam, NL. With Fronte Vacuo
2024 TRAGEDIA*, Wiener Festwochen, Vienna, AT. With Fronte Vacuo
2024 Eingeweide, Meta.Morf Biennale, Trondheim, NO
2024 Ex Silens*, CTM Festival, Radialsystem, Berlin, DE
2023 Eingeweide, Acker Stadt Palast, Berlin, DE
2023 Corpus Nil, Centro Studi sul Contemporaneo, Cuneo, IT
2023 Ex Silens, Public preview, PACT Zollverein, Essen, DE
2023 RESOLUTION*, Volkstheater Wien, AT. With Fronte Vacuo
2022 ℧R, arebyte Gallery, London, UK. With Fronte Vacuo
2022 ΣXHALE, Volkstheater Wien, AT. With Fronte Vacuo
2022 Eingeweide, Volkstheater Wien, AT
2022 ΣXHALE, tanzhaus nrw, Düsseldorf, DE. With Fronte Vacuo
2022 ΣXHALE*, CTM Festival, Radialsystem, Berlin, DE. With Fronte Vacuo
2021 Eingeweide, Kapelica Gallery, Ljubljana, SI
2021 Corpus Nil, Spazio Musica, Cagliari, IT
2021 Eingeweide, Donaufestival, Krems, AT
2021 Corpus Nil, Lunchmeat Festival, Prague, CZ
2020 ℧R*, Kontejner, Zagreb, HR. With Fronte Vacuo
2019 Eingeweide, NEMO Biennale / HeK Basel, Paris, FR
2019 Eingeweide, Münchner Kammerspiele, Munich, DE
2019 Alia: Zǔ tài, MING Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai, CN
2019 Alia: Zǔ tài*, Goethe-Institut Beijing, CN
2019 Eingeweide, NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf, DE
2018 Alia: Zǔ tài*, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, DE
2018 Ominous and Music for Flesh II, Oxford University, UK
2018 Eingeweide*, Romaeuropa Festival, Rome, IT
2018 Corpus Nil Bienal de Arte Digital, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2017 Ominous, Prix Ars Electronica Gala, Brucknerhaus, Linz, AT
2017 Music for Flesh II, IEM Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, Graz, AT. Performed by Intrasonic Duo.
2016 Corpus Nil + Ominous, Voltaje, Feria del Millón, Bogotá, CO
2016 Corpus Nil, ZKM, Karlsruhe, DE
2016 Corpus Nil, Defibrillator Performance Art Gallery, Chicago, US
2015 Ominous + Music for Flesh II, NEMO Biennale / IRCAM Live, Gaite Lyrique, Paris, FR
2015 0-Infinity, TodaysArt / 4DSound, The Hague, NL
2015 Corpus Nil, NIME Int. Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression, Baton Rouge, US
2015 Ominous + Music for Flesh II, CTM Festival, Berlin, DE
2014 Ominous, FACT, Liverpool, UK
2014 Ominous, Sónar+D, Barcelona, ES
2014 Ominous + Music for Flesh II, STEIM, Amsterdam, NL. With Marije Baalman, Erfan Abdi.
2014 Ominous + Music for Flesh II, Experimental Intermedia, New York City, US. With Jaime Oliver.
2013 Ominous, RPM Sound Art China, Shanghai, CN
2013 Ominous + Music for Flesh II, TransitioMX, Mexico City, MX
2013 Ominous + Music for Flesh II, NYEAF New York Electronic Arts Festival, US
2013 Ominous, Linux Audio Conference, Graz, AT
2012 Hypo Chrysos, Panorama Festival, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2012 Ominous, ISCM World New Music Days, de Singel, Antwerp, BE
2012 Music for Flesh II, FILE Festival, SESC-SP, Sao Paulo, BR
2012 Music for Flesh II, Guthman New Musical Instrument Competition, Georgia Tech University, US
2011 Hypo Chrysos, Madatac Festival, CaixaForum, Madrid, ES
2011 Music for Flesh II, 4th Pure Data Convention, SEAM Studio, Weimar, DE
2011 I C::ntr::l Nature, WRO Biennale, Grotowosky Institute, Wroclaw, PL
2010 UKI, a viral performance by Shu Lea Cheang with Martin Howse, Piksel Festival, Bergen, NO. With Oscar Martin Correa, Joachim Montessuis, Alejandra Perez, Eleonora Oreggia, Julien Ottavi,
2010 I C::ntr::l Nature, Mapping Festival, Geneve, CH
2009 I C::ntr::l Nature, Netaudio Festival, Berlin, DE
2009 I C::ntr::l Nature, NEMO Festival, LeCube, Paris, FR
2009 Golden Shield Music, CCCB Centre of Contemporary Culture, Barcelona, ES
2008 I C::ntr::l Nature, Ausklang Festival, Hamburg, DE
2008 I C::ntr::l Nature, Vision’r Festival, Paris, FR
2007 I C::ntr::l Nature, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome, IT
2006 I C::ntr::l Nature, Venice Biennale, Venice, IT
2005 Autoctono, Live!iXem, Venice, IT

Selected Exhibitions

An * indicates a solo exhibition. A complete list of exhibitions can be viewed here.

2024 Lestes, Public Preview, ZER01NE Day, Seoul, KR
2024 Niranthea, International Red Cross Museum, Geneva, CH
2024 7 Configurations, Meta.Morf Biennale, Trondheim, NO
2024 Niranthea*, Future Wide Open, Modu Arts Theater, Seoul, KR
2023 Niranthea*, PACT Zollverein, Essen, DE
2023 The AI Prostheses, ESC Medien Kunst Labor, Graz, AT
2022 Amygdala, Tieranatomisches Theater, Berlin, DE
2022 7 Configurations, Ming Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai, CN
2022 Amygdala, Technischen Sammlungen, Dresden, DE
2021 Amygdala + Calyx, Kiblix, Maribor, SI
2020 Amygdala + Calyx + Alia: Zǔ tài, LABoral, Gijon, ES
2020 Inanis, interactive spatial sound composition. musikprotokoll, Graz, AT
2019 Amygdala + Calyx, Łaźnia Center for Contemporary Art, Gdansk, PL
2019 Amygdala + Calyx, Museo del Carme, Valencia, ES
2019 Eingeweide, MACRO, Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome, IT
2018 Amygdala, Ars Electronica Festival, Linz, AT
2018 Amygdala, UdK Graduiertenschule Final Show, Berlin, DE
2018 Amygdala, Robot Love, Eindhoven, NL
2018 Amygdala*, Baltan Laboratories, Eindhoven, NL
2017 Amygdala mki, UdK Berlin, Berlin, DE
2017 Corpus Nil, MUOArt Gallery, Beijing, CN
2017 Amygdala mki, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, DE
2015 Nigredo, musikprotokoll, Kunsthaus, Graz, AT
2014 Nigredo, Cynetart Festival, Dresden, DE
2014 Septic, transmediale, with Baptiste Caramiaux, Berlin, DE
2013 Nigredo, Sonic Acts, STEIM, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Golden Shield Music, Re-New Festival, Copenhagen, DK
2010 Golden Shield Music, Reykjavik Art Museum, IS
2009 Risveglio n.1: Venezia, Venice Biennale, Venice, IT
2007 High Spheres, Open Air Museum of Pedvale, Riga, LV.
2005 In-side, neon>campobase, Bologna, IT
2005 In-side, CareOf Gallery, Milan, IT

Selected Lectures

An * indicates a keynote.

2024 Tanz:digital – Real Time Affairs, Dock 11, Berlin, DE
2024 Future Wide Open, Modu Art Center, Seoul, KR
2024 Meta Maps, Osage Art Foundation, Hong Kong, HK
2023 South East Dance, Brighton, UK
2023 European Theater Forum, Opole, PL
2023 Tanz NRW, PACT Zollverein, Essen, DE
2023 Centre for Dance Research – C-Dare, Coventry, UK
2022 MoCo, International Conference on Movement and Computing, Chicago, US
2022 *Congresso Internacional de Arte, Ciência e Tecnologia, Belo Horizonte, BR
2022 Sound Design(ed) Futures, Université Gustave Eiffel, FR
2022 Institut Kunst und Kunsttheorie, Köln Universität, DE
2021 KI und Theater Symposium, Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, DE
2021 EiDCT, Encontro interdisciplinar Dança, Cognição e Tecnologia, Uruguay, Brasil, Argentina.
2021 *Art Research Conference, UNATC, Bucharest, RO
2021 Cyborg in Law, Science and Arts, Online
2021 Politics of the Machine Conference, Berlin, DE
2021 Department of Theater, Drama and Contemporary Dance, Indiana University, Bloomington, US
2021 Audio Arts Columbia College, Chicago, US
2020 Taboo-Transgression-Transcendence in Art & Science, Online. With Margherita Pevere, Theresa Schubert, Patricia McCormack, Galerija Kapelica.
2020 Antistatic, International Festival for Contemporary Dance and Performance, Sofia, BG
2020 PAD Festival, Performing Arts & Digitalität, DADK, Darmstadt, DE
2019 Tribute to Leonardo, Panel, Palazzo Farnese, Rome, IT
2019 Performing Robots Conference, Utrecht, NL. With Kristina Andersen.
2019 NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf, DE. With Bettina Masuch.
2018 Oxford University, UK
2018 Ottawa Arts Center, Ottawa, CA
2018 Enjoy Complexity Symposium, Dortmund, DE
2018 CTM Festival, Berlin, DE
2017 Musicology Department, University of Oslo, Panel, Oslo, NO
2017 Prix Ars Electronica, Linz, AT
2017 Goethe-Institut Beijing, CN
2017 Long Night of Sciences, Berlin, DE
2016 iii Reading Room, The Hague, NL
2016 Future Fest, Panel, London, UK
2016 ZKM:GLOBALE, Karlsruhe, DE
2015 CHI, ACM Conference on Computer-Human Interaction, Seoul, KR. With Baptiste Caramiaux.
2015 Music Makers Hacklab MX, Mexico City, MX
2014 Interdisciplinary Musicology Conference, Berlin, DE
2014 NYU, New York University, US
2014 LISA Salon – Leaders in Software and Arts, New York City, US
2013 Chronus Art Center, Shanghai, CN
2013 IEEE GOLD, Zagreb, HR
2013 NIME, Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression , KAIST, Seoul, KR
2013 STEIM, Studio for Electro-Instrumental Music, Amsterdam, NL
2011 SIMCF, Seoul International Computer Music Festival, Seoul National University, KR
2011 PdCon, Pure Data Conference, Bauhaus Universität, Weimar, DE
2011 ICMC, International Computer Music Conference, Huddersfield University, UK
2011 Edinburgh Linux Users Group, Edinburgh Conference Center, UK