dmstfctn

London-based artist duo dmstfctn explores opaque systems of power through performance, installation, video games and film. Their work often involves audiences directly, inviting them into the 'demystification' of systems by replicating and replaying them, and into their 'remystification' by building worlds, characters and myths atop them.

next (solo show): ART CITY
TECNOPOLO, bologna
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Showing The Models (2025), endless AI-generated improv theatre
(group show): Operating Systems
SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Showing the AI-training video game Godmode Epochs (2023) online; East London Art Prize
NUNNERY GALLERY
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Showing Waluigi's Purgatory (2024) as an interactive standalone installation
(news): dmstfctn & Lawrence Lek
DIGITAL DEAL PODCAST
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... dmstfctn & Lawrence Lek talk about improvisation, roleplaying and mistakes in AI; dmstfctn & Lawrence Lek
Digital Deal Podcast
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... dmstfctn & Lawrence Lek talk about improvisation, roleplaying and mistakes in AI; What happens when AI lies?
DOMUS
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Interview about The Models (2025), endless AI-generated improv theatre
2024 (live): Waluigi's Purgatory
MEET, milan; ROMA EUROPA FESTIVAL
MATTATOIO, rome; ROBOT FESTIVAL
bologna; SMART LIFE FESTIVAL
TEATRO S CARLO, modena; INDEX Biennial
GNRATION, braga; CRYPTIDS with Gunseli Yalcinkaya
SONAR+D, barcelona; CRYPTIDS
SONAR+D, barcelona; Futur.Shock
FOLD, london; Waluigi's Purgatory
SERPENTINE^×HQI, london; GOD MODE (ep. 1)
MUDAERUK, seoul; GOD MODE (ep. 1)
SYSTEM, shanghai
(group show): Waluigi's Purgatory
ARE YOU FOR REAL
Showing excerpts from Waluigi's Purgatory (2024) with contextual notes; Decentralized Futures
ETOPIA, zaragoza
(screening): NOINDEX: is nothing forever?
ICA, london
(news): what happens when an AI cheats?
DAZED
dmstfctn speak to Günseli Yalcinkaya about Waluigi's Purgatory (2024); Kill the Luigi in your head
NERO
dmstfctn speak to NERO about Waluigi's Purgatory (2024); dmstfctn & Evita Manji
COEVAL MAGAZINE
dmstfctn & Evita Manji speak to Alasdair Milne about Waluigi's Purgatory (2024); conversation with evita & dmstfctn
T-MAG; In conversation with Evita Manji & dmstfctn
T-MAG
"Ever wondered whether an Artificial Intelligence could have its own desires?"; S+T+ARTS nomination
ARS ELECTRONICA
Godmode Epochs (2023) wins a S+T+ARTS nomination a year after its release; Networked Worlds
WEPRESENT
Waluigi's Purgatory (2024) featured in the Wepresent x Wetransfer publication
(residency): European Digital Deal
LEONARDO SUPERCOMPUTER, bologna
Finetuning a system for endless AI generated theatrical improvisation
(talk): bodystacked
LCF, london
A talk on the faciality of AI characters in the GOD MODE series (2022-)
2023 (group show): Directory
THE WRONG BIENNALE, alicante
(live): Semibreve
THEATRO CIRCO, braga
(talk): Autonomous Worlds day
istanbul; Beyond Cultures of Ownership
SOMERSET HOUSE, london; Godmode Epochs
SERPENTINE, twitch; dmstfctn plays Godmode Epochs
SERPENTINE, twitch
Godmode Epochs (2023) launch on Serpentine's Twitch with curator Eva Jäger; AI UK 2023
QEII CENTRE, london
(release): Large Lore Models
0XPARC; Large Lore Models
0XPARC
A speculative tool for narrative building, with Eva Jäger and Alasdair Milne; Godmode Epochs
STEAM
An AI training game set in an infinite supermarket, time is short, the AI frustrated
(residency): ARTECHO
ETOPIA, zaragoza
Building a fully onchain narrative generation game, a.k.a a 'Large Lore Model'
(news): Turret Theory
SERPENTINE
Alasdair Milne examines the video game Godmode Epochs (2023); Godmode Epochs
ALAN TURING INSTITUTE
dmstfctn are awarded the 2022 Alan Turing Institute Public Engagement Grant; dmstfctn investigates contemporary environments
CLOT
An interview with Christopher Michael on the GOD MODE series (2022—); come addestrare una intelligenza artificiale?
ARTRIBUNE
An interview in Italian expanding on the vide ogame Godmode Epochs (2023)
2022 (live): GOD MODE (ep. 1)
SERPENTINE, london; IMPAKT FESTIVAL
HET HUIS, utrecht; UNSOUND BUBBLES
kraków; GOD MODE (ep. 1)
HQI, london
(news): Artist conversation with dmstfctn
IMPAKT TV
A live interview on simulation and AI, hosted by Marijn Bril at IMPAKT festival
2021 (release): ECHO FX
KRISIS PUBLISHING
A book and performance about market manipulation on Brexit Referendum night; Ø
FLATLINE PRESS/HYPERDUB
(screening): INTERFACE CHAOS ^ft SKY H1
CAFE OTO, london
(group show): NONPLUSULTRABLACK
SYNNIKA, frankfurt
(news): Demystification Committee debuts echo fx
AQNB
"The performance revisits the sociopolitical and economic tumult following Brexit"; ECHO FX
SLEEK
"A modern tale, constructed of lies, gorilla advertising bus campaigns and ..."; REALITY CHECK AHEAD
CLOT
"If the performance was a reaction, the book is a reflection, at 0x speed ..."
2020 (live): CTM ^× TRANSMEDIALE
BERGHAIN, berlin
(solo): OFFSHORE MATTERS
AKSIOMA, ljubljana
(screening): INTERFACE CHAOS
FORUM STADTPARK, graz
(talk): Moneylab #8
AKSIOMA
A panel on works of art that investigate the offshore financial industry
(news): INTERFACE CHAOS ^ft SKY H1
NERO
An interview on the short film 'INTERFACE CHAOS' (2019), including excerpts; CHASING ILLICIT MONEY
NEW YORK TIMES
"A group of artists began a project to show how money could be moved offshore"
2019 (live): DESIGNING TIME
DESIGN MUSEUM, london
(solo): NETWORK ENSEMBLE
GLUQBAR, milan
(group show): A SCHOOL OF SCHOOLS
C-MINE, genk; PORTO DESIGN BIENNALE
TRINDADE, porto; A SCHOOL OF SCHOOLS
LUMA, arles
(screening): Ø.29
CORSICA STUDIOS, london; PORTO DESIGN BIENNALE
CAMPO 24 DE AGOSTO, porto; INTERFACE CHAOS
TRUST, berlin; INTERFACE CHAOS
EVENING CLASS, london
(release): Flash Demons
MILLE PLATEAUX
Audiovisual genealogy of financial algorithmic collapse, limited editon USB
2018 (live): transmediale face value
HKW, berlin; Borderline Festival
ONASSIS, athens; Borderline Festival
ONASSIS STEGI, athens
"Approach from West India Quay, see what corpses sprouted on the Isle of Dead"; Radical Networks
SPEKTRUM, berlin
(group show): 4^th Design Biennial
ARTER, istanbul; 4^th Istanbul Design BIENNIAL
ARTER, istanbul; transmediale face value
HKW, berlin; Situation #111
FOTOMUSEUM, winterthur
(talk): Automated Lands
NEW INSTITUTE, rotterdam; Automated Landscapes
HET NIEUWE INSTITUUT, rotterdam
Discussing the participative artwork Offshore Investigation Vehicle (2018); transmediale face value
HKW, berlin
Discussing the participative artwork Offshore Investigation Vehicle (2018); IMPAKT Festival
HET HUIS, utrecht
Discussing sonic experimentation with algorithms and financial speculation; MoneyLab #4
SOMERSET HOUSE, london
Discussing the participative artwork Offshore Investigation Vehicle (2018); Alt-Age
DESIGN MUSEUM, london
(release): A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
SCHLOSS-POST
"The phone on the cafe table buzzes: Graham. Mark sighs. Graham is a prick"; The Offshore Economist
Rizosfera
"You are alone on a dusty desert road... You have just run out of water....."
(news): Buon Paradiso Fiscale a Tutti
NERO
An interview in Italian expanding on 'Offshore Investigation Vehicle' (2017-18)
2017 (talk): the influencers
CCCB, barcelona
(residency): Vilem Flusser Residency
TRANSMEDIALE, berlin
(release): SELECTED NETWORK STUDIES
NUKFM
AV experiments with wireless network infrastructure, limited edition SD card