Paulo de Assis is an accomplished artist-researcher and author with a distinguished background in piano, musicology, and composition, currently based at the Orpheus Institute in Ghent, Belgium. He spearheads MetamusicX, a pioneering research group dedicated to exploring the intersections of experimental performance, posthumanism in music, and the innovative applications of AI and blockchain technology in musical creativity.
As an experimental performer and scholar, Paulo's broad interests include composition, aesthetics, and contemporary philosophy. His notable contributions to the field are evident in his authorship of "Logic of Experimentation: Rethinking Music Performance through Artistic Research" (2018) and his role as editor of the influential DARE trilogy: "The Dark Precursor: Deleuze and Artistic Research" (2017), "Aberrant Nuptials" (2019), and "Machinic Assemblages of Desire" (2021). He also edited "Virtual Works — Actual Things: Essays in Music Ontology" (2018), "Futures of the Contemporary" (2019), and the forward-looking "Decentralised Music: Exploring Blockchain for Artistic Research" (2024), highlighting his keen insights into the evolving dynamics of music ontology and the future of contemporary music practices.
Paulo's artistic projects are characterized by experimental performances and creative reinterpretations of works by eminent composers and thinkers such as Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Nietzsche, and Luigi Nono, reflecting his deep engagement with and contribution to the contemporary artistic landscape.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Paulo is an Ironman All World Athlete, having completed 14 races, and an Ironman Certified Coach. His passion for Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) fuels regular publications on diverse online fora, offering insights into his approach to managing the vast array of information that informs his work and life.
In addition to his artistic and athletic endeavors, Paulo is actively involved in the evaluation of research projects, serving as the President of the Panel Arts at the Swiss National Foundation, an elected member of the SNF Research Council, and a panel member for the European Research Council Panels SH5 and SH8. These roles underscore his significant contributions to the advancement of artistic research and his commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the arts.