Friction is generative

Portrait XO is the transdisciplinary practice of Rania — an artist and researcher based in Berlin working at the intersection of ethical AI, data sonification, sound art, and decolonial thinking.

Her work addresses consent, voice as biometric data, and the productive tension between technological optimization and human cultural expression, traditional knowledge systems, and consent-based practice.

Institutional presentations include ZKM, MUTEK, and MONOM. She works across installation, live performance, music production, and research, with ongoing projects that address the gap between technological capability and legal protection.

Guiding Framework

The concept of "friction as generative" is central to Portrait XO's practice — the productive tension between technological optimization and human cultural expression. Rather than treating consent requirements as obstacles, her work frames them as generative forces that produce richer, more ethical outcomes.

Drawing from Sufi poetry, Korean cosmological frameworks including han and musok, decolonial theory, and thinkers including Sylvia Wynter, Donna Haraway, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and bell hooks — her practice bridges ancient wisdom systems with emerging technology.

Selected Institutions & Platforms