hellocatfood

https://post.lurk.org/@hellocatfood

Artist, musician, curator based in Birmingham in the UK. Likes cats.

(Algo|Afro) Futures Project Lead (Algo|Afro) Futures (npub1x0p…ctkk)

One half of badcirculation https://badcirculation.github.io/

Website: https://hellocatfood.com
Music: https://soundcloud.com/hellocatfood/tracks
Instagram: https://instagram.com/hellocatfood

Public Key

npub1s8p0kakzuj4mc4lpl50eqez58zand99rkr95asn97xymw6mfrwrsxk9ady

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsgrshmwmpwf2au2lsl68usv32r3wekjj3mpj6wcfjlrzdhdd53hpcprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntvu2qct

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub1s8p0kakzuj4mc4lpl50eqez58zand99rkr95asn97xymw6mfrwrsxk9ady

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Last Notes

2026-09-28 16:32:37 GMT

Still in Hanoi
#glitchart #datamosh
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/117/349/622/087/665/152/original/d73037c45b1d646d.mp4

2026-09-14 20:10:37 GMT

RE: https://social.toplap.org/@toplap/117268150681444944
oh wow, this is big news 😟️
#note1wmh…tesc

2026-09-01 12:52:05 GMT

So, what happened to me over the last four years? A lot I guess https://hellocatfood.com/blog/what-happened-to-me/

2026-08-25 08:37:12 GMT

meow
#glitch #glitchart #databending
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/117/155/235/261/562/039/original/0a0eba97474f4030.jpg

2026-08-14 14:06:04 GMT

I just really like making these.
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/117/094/242/178/604/224/original/629187e21824c873.png

2026-08-12 09:35:25 GMT

Happy to announce that I’m organising an Algorave at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on 15th October in the Tearoom, featuring me, nadya via proxy, and @npub1dff…fnrl!
Get yo tickets here https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/events/algorave---experimental-music-night-at-the-museum
#algorave #birmingham #bmag
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/117/081/830/225/593/080/original/d81b550e5bd89eda.jpg

2026-08-02 08:48:51 GMT

life, eh

2026-07-31 15:15:20 GMT

Brilliant time at Pattern Club last night! Thanks to @npub1hay…5kw2 and @npub16n0…dxve for putting it together @npub1tfh…d6d8
#livecoding #algorave #sheffield
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/117/015/237/924/440/042/original/6afcc1865bd901a1.mp4

2026-07-07 22:14:10 GMT

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Here's the view from my camera. The synthy thing is a video synth. (sorry for the quiet audio, I'll put in the desktop audio once I edit it)
#videosynthesis #weekofpatching
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/880/989/248/174/342/original/449cbe6a08fe2df3.mp4

2026-07-07 17:53:55 GMT

My first day participating in #weekofpatching (day 2). I'm quite rusty so opted for something similar using vcv rack with the #monome grid sequencer, and an analog video synth for visuals.
I filmed a whole 10-minute performance but I'm gonna have to edit and retroactively post about the process on my blog as I'm off to a gig!
#vcvrack #cardinal #analog #videosynthesis
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/879/964/571/344/732/original/968c160bde686924.mp4

2026-05-21 16:29:06 GMT

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tbf it should be able to do hardware encoding but, y'know, Linux.

2026-05-21 16:12:46 GMT

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I also use nvidia drivers but I had to set Output > Video Encoder to Software (x264) otherwise it just crapped out.
For whatever reason I think OBS wasn't seeing my graphics card, or Linux was just doing Linux things ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

2026-05-21 15:16:08 GMT

On Monday I had to do some last-minute visuals for Echo Juliet's performance supporting Max Cooper. Most of the visuals were created using [@cables_gl](https://mastodon.social/@cables_gl ) and the background was from an LZX/Syntonie video synthesiser.
For something created so quickly I'm happy with how it looked on the big screen. Video is from instagram so please excuse the captions. Oh yeah, it was in Birmingham at Syphony Hall.
(psst, check out Echo Juliet's music https://echojuliet.bandcamp.com/ )
#videosynthesis #generativeart #leaves #idk #lzx #syntonie #modular
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/613/218/360/885/623/original/816954922b2dac2c.mp4

2026-05-19 16:06:47 GMT

Today it was publicly announced that I am one of six artists selected for the Ode to the Midlands commission! https://cvanwestmidlands.co.uk/news/ode-to-the-midlands-commissioned-artists-announcement
Really happy to be part of this and looking forward to starting 🙂

2026-05-15 20:49:42 GMT

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Check out our music and things here. https://badcirculation.github.io/ I promise we're releasing something soon*
* soon = before the heat death of the universe

2026-05-15 20:13:53 GMT

Switzerland was good. Please enjoy this really nice photo of badcirculation after we'd just done a 1.5 hour performance.
Photo by Gabriel Asper https://www.instagram.com/gabriel.asper.photographie/
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/580/416/112/535/201/original/b553ef67ca1104f9.jpg

2026-04-15 12:12:02 GMT

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jxr is still one of my favourite image file formats to work with. I still need to read the file spec and work out what a "vanilla" image header looks like.
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/408/652/736/641/857/original/9ef00712fa029465.png
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/408/652/815/319/098/original/c2023920d1444e13.png

2026-04-14 15:00:32 GMT

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Looks like some lossy file types don't have very obvious repeating patterns. This is the qoi file format (literally means Quite OK Image). I think I need to make these images have larger resolution so the data doesn't fill up so quickly.
I'll also one day document my process but not right now.
#creativecoding
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/403/646/971/793/882/original/97f01a4ace7a40aa.png

2026-04-14 14:57:36 GMT

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Here's another one. It's so interesting how the same process can look different depending on the file type
I was going to finish this project in time for @npub1s27…g35u last year but didn't. I promise to exhibit this soon! I need to work out how this looks on bigger file sizes, and maybe even mixing in existing images.
#creativecoding
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/403/628/492/102/704/original/6aa51052a4a0cf7f.png

2026-04-14 14:50:22 GMT

back on my project of creating images from data. I think I've finally cracked how to create nice repeating patterns 🙂
#creativecoding #patterns
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/403/605/436/469/255/original/4a48745b64be5633.png

2026-04-12 20:53:40 GMT

I can see why people like making reaction diffusion patches https://cables.gl/edit/oKtuAg #cablesgl #creativecoding
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/116/393/699/880/079/285/original/459a3b58fa27b4cc.mp4

2026-03-24 19:42:07 GMT

I want make some collages of animated gifs but facing a couple of small issues. Combining gifs into one video or bigger gif is difficult because gifs can have different speeds/fps. Even each frame in a gif can have a different duration.
Sofware like PixiEditor and Pencil can import gifs but they basically separate the gif into its individual frames and play it back based on the project's fps/speed. I'd have to do a lot of editing after import to remedy this.
Natron is/was by far the most flexible approach as it can import gifs (thanks to ffmpeg-based import) and it has all the other tools for adding effects. However, I find it to be glitchy with gifs and there's not really anyone developing it atm so I can't rely on it in the future.
Friction is also another contender but it currently doesn't support transparent gifs (bug report https://github.com/friction2d/friction/issues/697 ).
Kdenlive can do this but I hate using it.
So, is there other open source linux-compatible software that I can use to make gif collages that respect the fps of each gif?

2026-02-23 18:15:03 GMT

Was doing some basic maths to convert rgb curves from @npub1jxd…txs3 to @npub1k5u…hg3t and wish I had a real calculator so that I didn't have to keep switching windows and remembered that I had an M&M's calculator as a kid. Looked on ebay to get one and it'll only set me back a cool $170 plus shipping 😬 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389362410002

2026-02-12 12:58:21 GMT

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This and other recent experiences also made me realise that the anti AI sentiment isn't as widespread within live coding and creative coding communities as I thought it was. A surprising number use it and like it. I had a similar realisation in 2020 when NFTs became a thing and was surprised at how many folks adopted them. One line of reasoning I heard, which I can mostly agree with, is that for years - decades for some - digital art had been undervalued and NFTs provided recognition and an actual livable income. It's hard to argue with that when the alternative is obscurity and fighting for those rare £1000-fee exhibitions.
And right now I feel the "opportunities" attached to AI are doing the same.
I honestly wish the alternatives were as lucrative. And suggesting that I/we start a Patreon, Ko-fi etc at this point feels condescending. It's a tonne more work for comparatively little gain.
I'm still against AI (and NFTs for that matter) but, y'all, I would like $15,000 please.

2026-02-12 12:57:09 GMT

Myself and many other live coders were recently contacted about a casting call looking for a "Code DJ" to help promote Claude AI in an ad. The fee is a whopping $15,000! I thanked them for approaching me for consideration but ultimately declined, stating my dislike of AI. I imagined how I'd feel watching youtube and then suddenly seeing myself on an ad for Claude and it gave me the ick.
With that said I'm not gonna judge the person who does it. They're obviously gonna find a "Code DJ" for this and I hope it's someone already engaged with live coding as it's a life-changing amount of money, especially for those of us who make our living through art and music and don't have second jobs that we can rely on for our baseline income. To put it in perspective my earnings last year were less than the fee they're offering, so I really had to think hard about it before I declined. I think I'll be ok overall but, maaaan, $15k sure does sound sweet right about now... btw you should hire me for your artwork and music things.

2026-02-02 20:55:06 GMT

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thanks, I think 😅 I made a more glitch but alsmo more legible font back in 2010 https://www.hellocatfood.com/dataface/ (derived from this video https://www.hellocatfood.com/i-am-sitting-in-a-room/ ) @npub1xse…lgk3

2026-01-15 15:10:34 GMT

This simplified font is horrible.
I love it.
#typography #graphicdesign #glitchart
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/115/899/732/487/857/499/original/66a4e5bf8cf8d756.mp4

2025-12-29 00:57:03 GMT

The instruction manual for the MPC Live II. I really like how instruction manuals look using this process, probably because of all of the vector diagrams.
I've made some music using the MPC but nothing I'm ready to release yet.
#collage #pdf #creativecoding #mpc
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/115/800/116/605/540/101/original/79c0add1ff5352e4.png

2025-12-09 10:57:10 GMT

I found this video on my computer of a anti piracy campaign from 1992 and decided to run it through my video synthesiser. Its slogan "Don't copy that floppy" warned that if piracy continues creative industries will fail.
Fast forward to 2025 and tech bros are being given free reign to steal from creators to feed their AI slop machines and are being hailed as innovators. Clearly it's only stealing if we do it.
Might go copy me a floppy or two.
#piracy #ai #fuckai #videosynthesis #dontcopythatfloppy
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/115/689/243/150/219/696/original/b18948daf9bef2d0.mp4

2025-11-24 10:39:54 GMT

On Wednesday 26th I'm performing at the final Algorave at Corsica Studios. Really sad to hear that it's closing soon 😞 It was where I did my first UK live coding performance as a musician (the first was in a barn in Arles, France).
Come on down if you can! https://ra.co/events/2280905
I also designed the poster 😉
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/115/604/232/924/395/112/original/d24b9a0127dad8cd.jpg

2025-08-12 19:39:43 GMT

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what flavour is this? I don't like it. Needs more garlic.

2025-08-12 19:33:52 GMT

Is there a name for the gigs where the amount paid to each act by the promoter is based on the amount of tickets each act sells?
(Other than scam obvs)

2025-08-11 16:25:06 GMT

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oh cool I never knew about the icn file format. Its structure reminds me a bit of pbm and pnm files. I also think there's another ascii image file format but can't recall right now 🙃
Nice images anyway!

2025-08-11 16:12:23 GMT

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It's a trick question! They're both Never Gonna Give You Up.
Also, how are you encoding these?

2025-04-30 20:42:00 GMT

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oh wow! I pass this building nearly every day and never knew it looked like this.
Thanks for sharing!

2025-04-29 10:31:50 GMT

Did I read somewhere that @npub1jxd…txs3 will eventually be getting non-destructive image transformations?

2024-12-31 19:05:39 GMT

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I took a screenshot from this, glitched it using various methods (SGI glitching), and then brought it into @npub1jxd…txs3 to create a static backdrop.
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/748/988/448/272/783/original/31fc3f23240f020a.png

2024-12-31 19:02:46 GMT

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It started with this video that I made using my video synthesiser gear https://modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2540151
I recorded it in 4:3 so that I could make use of Syntonie's Stable module which allows for some glitch modules to be used #glitchart
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/748/980/842/004/112/original/e55801b424c4c917.png
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/748/980/891/436/370/original/d974d2697b456f01.png
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/748/980/988/085/867/original/dfc72b0157cc0662.png
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/748/980/987/647/805/original/21485b5dacc490f0.png

2024-12-31 18:59:06 GMT

This is only a sketch but I quite like the process that went into making it. All Explained in the thread below
#videosynthesis #lzx
https://post.lurk.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/748/963/939/013/172/original/e9c4cdde06a33096.mp4