Christian Brinkmann is an audiovisual artist based in Hamburg, Germany, working at the intersection of nature, technology, and generative art. Christian studied audio engineering, and his journey began in music production, creating techno and ambient soundscapes. Over time, his practice evolved as he began integrating biodata from plants, transforming their hidden electrical signals into generative music and visuals. This fusion of nature, technology, and interactivity continues to drive his work today. We spoke to Christian about his art, nature and technology.
1. How would you describe your artistic practice?
I am an audiovisual artist working at the intersection of nature, technology, and generative art. My practice focuses on creating immersive, real-time audiovisual experiences that merge organic processes with digital media. Using TouchDesigner, Unreal Engine, and Ableton Live, I transform biodata from plants, 3D scans of natural elements, and real-time interactivity into generative sound and visuals.
At the core of my work is a desire to reveal hidden patterns in nature—whether through translating plant signals into music, using interactive technologies to allow viewers to engage with organic forms, or preserving the beauty of real-world textures through 3D scanning. My installations are always evolving, never static, designed to reflect the fluidity and unpredictability of the natural world.
2. What interests you about exploring the natural world through technology and art?
Nature has a deep intelligence that often goes unnoticed. Through technology, I aim to uncover and amplify these hidden processes, whether through biodata-driven soundscapes, real-time interactive visuals, or 3D-scanned organic forms.
Technology allows me to bridge the gap between the digital and organic, creating immersive environments where audiences can experience nature in new ways. By integrating real-time data, I make nature more tangible and interactive, encouraging a deeper appreciation of its complexity and beauty.
3. How does your art make nature more accessible?
In my work, nature is not just represented—it is an active participant. By transforming real-world biological data into audiovisual experiences, I create a way for people to hear, see, and interact with nature in ways they never could before.
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Through these methods, I make nature more immersive and interactive, allowing people to connect with it on an emotional and sensory level—even in digital or urban environments.
4. What excites you most about working with data and real-time systems?
What excites me most is working with real-time data and interactive systems to create artworks that are fluid, evolving, and unpredictable—just like nature itself.
I love using biodata, environmental inputs, and generative algorithms to build pieces that are not static but constantly shifting based on external influences. Whether it’s a plant generating sound through its electrical activity or a viewer triggering visual changes by interacting with an installation, these data-driven systems allow for a unique, organic form of creativity.
Rather than pre-determined outcomes, my work embraces emergence—where technology helps us experience nature’s rhythms and behaviours in new ways. The fact that no two moments in my pieces are ever exactly the same keeps the process exciting and alive.
5. What are your reflections on the relationship between art and technical innovation?
Art and technology have always been intertwined—each pushing the other forward. Technical innovations expand artistic possibilities, while art helps us interpret and humanize technology.
For me, the most exciting innovation happens when technology allows us to see the world differently. Whether it’s using real-time data to make invisible processes visible, or creating interactive systems that respond to the audience, technology enables new ways of storytelling and experience.
At the same time, I believe innovation should be purposeful—it’s not just about new tools, but how they help us connect, experience, and understand the world. My goal is to use technology not as an end, but as a bridge—between humans and nature, digital and physical, the seen and the unseen.
