As part of the master’s course on Software Language Engineering, we have a special guest lecture from artist + programmer Daniel Temkin on February 13, 11:00-12:45. You are all kindly invited to join the seminar.

Abstract: In his new book, Forty-Four Esolangs, Daniel challenges conventional definitions of language, code, and computer, showing the potential of esolangs—or esoteric programming languages—as pure idea art. The languages in this volume ask programmers to write code in the form of prayer to the Greek gods, or as a pattern of empty folders, or to type code in tandem with another programmer, each with one hand on the keyboard, their rhythm and synchrony signifying computer action. Temkin will share this project in the context of thirty plus years of esolangs. As Douglas Coupland puts it: “Every new spread in the book makes a reader feel like they’re discovering new territory with a worthy explorer who’s there for the joy of it.”

Bio: Daniel Temkin makes photographic and computational art exploring logic and human irrationality. He began interviewing other esolangers and code artists in 2011, creating the blog esoteric.codes. ZKM exhibited the blog and commissioned videos of Temkin explaining esolang history for their Open Codes show in 2018–19. Esoteric.codes earned an ArtsWriters.org grant and a residency at New Museum’s NEW INC, the first museum-led cultural incubator. Temkin has written about esolangs for Hyperallergic and Leonardo, and his aesthetic theory of the form was published by Digital Humanities Quarterly. His work was recently shown in solo exhibitions at Museum of the Moving Image and Higher Pictures.

Details
Speaker:  Daniel Temkin, Artist + programmer | https://danieltemkin.com/
Title: Forty-Four Esolangs: The Art of Esoteric Code
Date and Time: Friday 13 February 2026, 11:00-12:45
Room: NU-3B07