Live coding patterns and tangles – Alex Mc Lean + Agathe Herrou
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The first masterclass of The Cookery 2026 pairs together livecoders Alex McLean (UK) and Agathe Herrou (BE/FR).
Alex co-founded the TOPLAP live coding and Algorave algorithmic dance movements, and instigated the TidalCycles and Strudel live coding environments.
Agathe, known musically as th4, is a livecoder, developer, mathematician and a proficient knitter, who has been working on bridging this practice with live-coding.
Live coding patterns and tangles
Patterns are the original code, as systematic ways of thinking about textiles and music, with a long history starting thousands of years before our current ‘digital age’. Over the past 25 years, ‘live coding’ practice has emerged as a human-centric way to explore patterns in music using code-based notation, in a way similar to knitting and other heritage patterns. In this workshop we will get deep into ‘pattern thinking’, and how it can ground contemporary creative technology in ancient arts and crafts.
To do this we’ll be working with glue guns, motors, lollypop sticks and code examples, to explore how complex patterns of sound and movement can be made from simple parts.
We will introduce the free, web-based strudel software for this, exploring its possibilities for live coding music, while connecting it with other pattern-based codes like knitting and weaving patterns. No experience with code, music, or textiles necessary!
Practical info
This 2-days masterclass takes place on Saturday 30 + Sunday 31.05.2026, from 10:00 to 18:00
Languages: EN/FR
Bring your own laptop and headphone
Registration
- 💻 The Workshop Ticket is valid for the 2-days masterclass (30.05 + 31.05)
- 🍒 The Combo Ticket includes the workshop plus the Friday dinner-concert (29.05)
- 💎 The Grand Cookery Golden Ticket includes the two masterclasses (Patterns and tangles + Listening to Dead Machines), the two dinner-concerts (29.05 & 26.06) and a small surprise
We have three price categories:
- Supporter price, if you wish to generously support iMAL
- Regular price
- Friendly price for students, job seekers, citizens of Molenbeek, members of our Fablab. You will be asked to present a supporting document at the reception
If genuine financial hardship is preventing you from participating in the event, you can apply for a discounted ticket. Please contact us at cookery [at] imal.org at least two weeks before the workshop.
Credits
An event conceived by the iMAL team, in collaboration with the participating artists
Graphic design: Camille Chautru
Traduction: iMAL team & William Vanderborght
Video documentation: Kristina Ianatchkova
The Cookery is supported by
iMAL is supported by
