Robin Opheij

Compiled Binary Studies

This project makes the silent, hidden parts of machine programs, which we often interact with, visible. Moving from human-readable code to machine code, we obfuscate our ability to communicate with the machine into their language. However, by turning machine code back into something we can observe, and study, we open up possibilities to communicate, and analyse the machines, and the software on them from a different perspective.

Influenced by media archaeology and software poetics, I ask what is so beautiful about code, when it’s not a tool but an artifact of contemporary culture. By reframing the binary code into compositions to observe, we refuse the code’s execution and highlight the staticness of software, exposing the program and code for its materiality.

About Robin

I’m a Dutch artist working with code, language, and digital media. My practice revolves around using programming and code not just as a tool, but as the medium itself. Exploring what it means to write code, what a program becomes when separated from utility, and the language of programming. Through themes like media archaeology, software poetics, data aesthetics, and computational linguistics, I investigate the materiality of digital systems, and the poetics of hidden and overlooked part of machines. My work can range from solely digital experiments to physical installations but always starts in the form of code. Each piece emerges from the non-verbal conversation between system and artist. 

Find Robin's work during ArtEZ Finals 2025,
as part of I'm already there exhibition, at Oude Kraan 26, Arnhem,
Design Art Technology Arnhem (DAT)

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