Mert Akbal is a visual artist and researcher specializing in generative media art, cognitive sciences, and artificial intelligence. They create works of visual media art, including animated paintings, animations, and mapping projections, while conducting transdisciplinary research and coordinating interdisciplinary projects. Akbal’s artworks have been exhibited internationally, with some held by collectors and museums. Their research articles have been published in electronic art, cognitive science, and medical research journals and conferences. They also actively engage in knowledge-sharing through workshops and the creation of informational content with the aim of science communication.
As an academic researcher at the Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar (University of Fine Arts Saar, Saarbrücken, Germany) and an associated researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (Leipzig-Berlin, Germany), Mert Akbal teaches media art and supervises projects for students in art, design, and informatics disciplines. Additionally, they actively contribute to interdisciplinary projects, collaborating with visual artists, computer scientists, and cognitive scientists.
Selected Exhibitions, Festivals & Conference Presentations
2023 Kandinsky’s Kaleidoskop / Historical Museum Saar SAARBRUECKEN (DE)
2022 Virtually Human / Wizara, BERLIN (DE), CAIRO (EG)
2022 MetaDreams / w. Mey Seifan, BERLIN (DE)
2022 SENSE Festival / BIOTOPIA Naturkundemuseum, MUNICH (DE)
2021 THERMAL / Laser Talks, Leonardo ISAST, ARS Electronica, LINZ (AT)
2021 Let me Hold You / Mörby Gård Konst, ORNÖ (SE)
2021 Kosmos der Urbanen Liga / Urbane Liga, re:publica, BERLIN (DE)
2021 #2 Physical: Restitution / RectoVRso Festival-Laval Virtual, Musée-École de la Perrine – Laval (FR)
2019 Oneiric Transductions / Laser Talks, FORTALEZA (BR)
2018 Intersections / International Symposium on Electronic Arts, DURBAN (SA)
2018 Mirage Festival / Les Subsistances, LYON (FR)
2018 Curious Dreams (solo exhibition) / Kunstverein Ulm, ULM (DE)
2017 Silberne Frequenz / LWL Museum für Kunst und Kultur, MÜNSTER (DE)
2016 Transmediale Vorspiel / ACUD, BERLIN (DE)
2016 Real of Reality / ZKM, KARLSRUHE (DE)
2016 Cultural Revolution / I International Symposium on Electronic Arts, HONG KONG (HK)
2013 Prix d’Art Robert Schuman / Johanneskirche Saarbrücken, SAARBRÜCKEN (DE)
2013 SaarArt – Landeskunstausstellung des Saarlandes / Städtische Galerie Neunkirchen, NEUNKIRCHEN (DE)
2012 Paratactic Commons / AMBER’ 12 Art and Technology Festival, ISTANBUL (TR)
2012 International Forum for Pyschomotoric/Performance/Interaction / Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, STUTTGART (DE)
2012 Dream Connection / International Association for the Study of Dreams, BERN (CH)
2009 Mythos und Heimat / Holzgau, HOLZGAU, TIROL (AT)
2008 Octobre Rouge Video Art Prize CIGL (LU)
2008 Landeskunstausstellung des Saarlandes / Städtische Galerie Neunkirchen, NEUNKIRCHEN (DE)
2008 The 1st International Roaming Biennial of Tehran / Hafriyat Karaköy, ISTANBUL (TR) / BERLIN (DE) / BELGRADE (RS)
2004 Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, SAARBRÜCKEN (DE)