About
Robbie Thomson is a Glasgow based artist working between the fields of visual art, music and theatre. His interests include the interplay of technology and consciousness, mysticism, cybernetics, industrial landscapes and megalithic sites.
Past works include: XFRMR – a live AV performance incorporating a singing Tesla coil, synths and audioreactive visuals. Portal – a 762m long robotic installation in Glasgow’s Clyde Tunnel and The Eye – an adaptation of George Bataille’s Story of the Eye which incorporated performance, robotics and live web streaming.
In 2011 Robbie was a founding director of independent arts venue the Glue Factory in Glasgow and in 2013 he joined the Cryptic Artist programme. Robbie has worked as a collaborator with theatre companies such as Untitled Projects, NVA, Common Wealth Theatre and National Theatre of Scotland. From 2010 to 2015 he was a member of 85A, a Glasgow based DIY collective that produced large scale installations and performances.
Robbie has toured music and theatre works widely over the past 5 years, presenting work at festivals throughout the UK, Europe, Indonesia, Mexico, Korea, and Australia.
More design and fabrication work can be found at Robbie Thomson Studio
Awards / Residencies
2020
Watershed / MAYK Winter Residency, Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol
2018
2-tak residency, WAFT Lab, Surabaya, Indonesia
Open Studio Residency for Digital Design Weekend Bandung, Indonesia
Residency at Grand Theatre, Groningen, Netherlands
Production residency for Paper Memories, Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Production residency for YAYAYA AYAYAY, Gessnerallee, Zurich, Switzerland
2017
CMMAS residency, Morelia, Mexico
2016
Residency at The Substation, Melbourne, Australia
CALQ / PRIM / CCA residency, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
CMMAS residency, Morelia, Mexico
2016
Collision residency, Southbank Center, London
2015-20
Cove Park Residency, Rosneath, Scotland
2012
Artist In Residence, Not Quite, Fengersfors, Sweden
2019 – Aesthetica Art Prize – longlist
2017 – Made in Scotland Award for XFRMR
2015 – Puppet Animation Scotland Creative Fund award
2014 – Best Design (for Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner) – Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland
2013 – Made in Scotland Award for Ecstatic Arc
2012 – Arts Trust Scotland Award