Keynote | Robert Henke: “My Life as a Toolmaking Artist: A Personal Reflection on the Challenges and Rewards of Building My Own Instruments”

I had the privilege of witnessing—and participating in—the historic shift of computer-generated music from an academic pursuit to something accessible in a bedroom studio. I embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly, using environments like IRCAM’s Max to explore new sonic and structural territories. This allowed me to move beyond the constraints of physical instruments I could afford, the limitations of my own hands, and the rigid mental models of established MIDI sequencing software.

Driven by a desire to achieve unique and personal results with limited computing power and knowledge, I came to value the creative freedom found in self-imposed limitations. This experience led to a deep appreciation for simple yet powerful concepts, algorithms, and interfaces.

Since the beginning, my music emerged from an iterative process: building instruments, being surprised and inspired by the results, and then revising the instruments in response. The insights I gained not only informed a successful commercial product but, more importantly, shaped my identity as an artist and my approach to computer-based creation.

In my talk, I will examine selected works of mine from a critical toolmaker’s perspective: did I reinvent the wheel again, or did I achieve an artistic outcome which justifies the effort?

Robert Henke

Robert Henke is an artistic toolmaker and a toolmaking artist, exploring the creative potential of technology. His practice spans musical compositions, concerts, large-scale audiovisual installations, and computer graphics. His work frequently involves inventing custom algorithms and machines, blending rigid structure with controlled randomness. His music channels the raw, repetitive energy of techno culture, as well as the intricate details and textures of abstract contemporary works. His visual art builds on the legacies of Minimal Art and early computer graphics pioneers.
Since 1995, he has recorded and performed as Monolake, initially a duo with Gerhard Behles and, since 1999, a solo project. His artistic collaborations include works with Marko Nikodijevic, Tarik Barri, and Christopher Bauder, among others.
Henke is also a co-creator of Ableton Live, software that revolutionised music production and electronic performance. He lectures and writes on sound and creative computing, and has taught at institutions such as the Berlin University of the Arts, Stanford’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) and IRCAM in Paris.
His installations, performances, and concerts have been presented at leading venues worldwide, including Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou, PS1, MUDAM, MAK, Palazzo Grassi, and countless music festivals.

More about Robert Henke: www.roberthenke.com