De Montfort University (DMU) & Onassis Stegi will contribute to the telematics arts initiative focusing on hacking, as a particularly appropriate means of telematic performance. Many sounds from hacked instruments have unique characteristics and behaviors and do not operate in the same manner as traditional instruments. Such issues as latency in networked performance will not be seen as a detriment, but instead as part of the material nature of the Net that offers unique possibilities for making music together.

Both partners will work with hackers, cybersecurity experts and artists facilitating international collaborative works and coordinate a number of telematics events and expositions which can be seen as a live stream or later on a YouTube channel. The basic concept here is to legally hack internet routers so that they are able to sonify the movement of data across the Internet. International partners in New Zealand, China and throughout Europe will work on this project alongside the other Interfaces partners such as OCC in Greece.

The impact of this initiative may not be primarily in the large number of users within a finite amount of time, but instead, enabling the creation of a new, technology-driven form of community-based music making crossing age groups, levels of ability and cultural background possible and most importantly bringing together people from all around Europe. 

---> First Exposition 28–29 November 2017 | DMU, Leicester (UK)

---> Second Exposition 18 April 2018 | Onassis Stegi, Athens (GR)

---> Workshop with John Richards | ZKM, Karlsruhe (DE)

What is Telematic Hacking?
A group of leading artists exploring the materiality of the Net meet in a telematic room. Over a series of meetings a new work emerges. Tools and hardware hacks to sound the network will be investigated. The devising will be ‘televised’ online and the telepresent audience will be invited to make their own ‘instrument’ for performance. The telematic meetings will coalesce in exposition events at a set time and physical location.

Network as instrument
Many sounds from hacked instruments have unique characteristics and behaviors and do not operate in the same manner as traditional instruments. If we consider the Internet router as a musical instrument this opens up the possibility of new repertoire and audiences.

Hacking the network
Hacking and subsequently performing with a networked device would suggest broader access issues relating to music making. In the case of a router, it could be looking at the manipulation of the way in which data packages are sent and received with an interest for the sonification of this data or router behaviour. Such issues as latency in networked performance are not to be seen as a detriment, but instead as part of the material nature of the Net that offers unique possibilities for making music together.

A new form of community music making
This initiative aims to create a new, technology-driven form of community-based music making crossing age groups, levels of ability and cultural background and most importantly bringing together people from all around Europe.