Emir Johnston is a digital artist and researcher based in Manchester. His work draws upon systems theory, phenomenology and philosophies of consciousness to interrogate contemporary issues surrounding technology. A crucial focus in his work is the behaviour of machines, particularly the behaviour machines manifest with one another. His intention is for his work to stimulate discussions surrounding emergent behaviour and meaning-making in artificial systems.

His artistic practice spans across sculpture, robotics and installation. Viewer participation is a recurring theme in his work, encouraging people to engage and become an active element of a system. Through this approach, his work examines how meaning, agency, and autonomy are negotiated between human and artificial actors, revealing the complex relationships that emerge between them.