computer art

The Tickle

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I am super thrilled to be joining two dynamic creators/editors – Jess Britton and Johnny Dean Mann on their digital art magazine The Tickle. I am writing a monthly column – starting with Issue No.80, about the history of this field – each month a new topic. I’m looking forward to covering some historical subjects that still have relevance in the art world today, especially with reference to technology, society and early digital art. First up is Stroud Cornock and Ernest Edmonds with a work from 1970!

New book art:notes+works Ernest Edmonds

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This beautifully-illustrated book about award winning digital and systems artist Ernest Edmonds, covers his career from 1960 to present. The Introduction includes a transcription of a ‘Conversation’ between Ernest and I that took place at the Paul Mellon Centre last year – hit the VIDEOS tab above to see a recording on YouTube of this lecture and conversation.

Review of Harold Cohen exhibition now published by Studio International

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Harold Cohen, First Sighting, 2012, oil over pigment ink on canvas

Can one human’s artistic knowledge be encoded? That is what artist Harold Cohen set out to do when he created AARON, his art making computer program. Read my review published in Studio International and go and see the show at Gazelli Art House in London (on till 19 November). Also of interest is my panel discussion held in the Gallery on the 25 October, watch the recording here.

RIP Herbert W Franke

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Herbert W Franke, IntarsA2, 2013

I am very saddened to hear of the death of Herbert Franke (1927-2022). He was always very kind an helpful to me whenever I had a question, particularly about the early years of computer art in Germany. He was a polymath – a pioneer and innovator of algorithmic and generative art creation, right up to the last. We worked together in 2013 on an article for ITNow, the magazine of the British Computer Society, published February that year. Above is an image from that time, which he sent me in advance of its publication.

New paper on Robert Mallary just published

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Robert Mallary QUAD III, 1969. Plywood, metal and resin on plywood base. This was exhibited at the Whitney Annual Sculpture show (NY 1968-69) and New Tendencies (Zagreb 1969). Now in the collection of Tate London (as seen here)

My latest research on artist Robert Mallary (1917-1997) has just been published, part of the Review of Machine Art Special Issue of Arts. Read “An Element of Perfection: The Transductive Art of Robert Mallary”. Before the realm of techno-art became a recognizable construct, Mallary was interested in a system of relationships, seeking in his words, ‘an element of perfection’ in combinations of materials and technologies to make ‘a beautiful whole’.  I argue there is an art historical trajectory of a 3D immersive type of art that takes place in a specific defined environment – a concept that I link from Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siquerios through Kurt Schwitters via Mallary and the bourgeoning field of “art & technology” in the middle decades of the 20th century.

Review of CHANCE & CONTROL at the V&A

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Installation view of Chance and Control at the V&A, showing early and mid-period drawings by Harold Cohen

Read my review in Studio International of the new display of computer art at the Victoria & Albert Museum London – Chance and Control: Art in the age of Computers and learn of the remarkable diversity of the V&A’s collection and how it has grown from early beginnings in just ten years.  Among many things of interest here are three fabulous works by Harold Cohen from his early, mid and later period.  Exhibition on now until 18 November 2018.

Lecture – Computer art and the influence of D’Arcy Thompson

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Come to my forthcoming lecture in Dundee –

‘A huge space of endless predetermined possibilities’: Computer art and the influence of D’Arcy Thompson

On 8 November 6pm, I’m thrilled to be going to the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum to talk about how the writing of code has been used to draw since digital computing technology became accessible to artists from the mid-1960s.  This year is the 100th anniversary of D’Arcy W Thompson’s book On Growth and Form (1917) which had a formative influence on the pioneers of algorithmic art.

William Latham muta6, 2014 (detail)

In this talk we will learn how complex and visually arresting imagery often comes from surprisingly simple sets of instructions. We will discover that the use of the computer offers ‘a huge space of endless predetermined possibilities.’ (William Latham, artist)

Co-organised with the Abertay Historical Society as part of NEoN Digital Arts Festival supported by Creative Scotland.  Book your ticket here

Morphogenetic Creations

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Andy Lomas Morphogenetic Creations, 2016 Installation view
Andy Lomas Morphogenetic Creations, 2016 Installation view

Andy Lomas’s new solo exhibition at Watermans, (until 21st July) provides a perfect opportunity to see his complete vision.  From framed prints and moving image animations to 3D printing, Lomas explores the aesthetics of biology inspired by the theories of Alan Turing and D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson.  Based on his cellular growth model, he creates intriguing, uncannily beautiful shapes with the feel of living organisms.  The quality of and detail in this work is superb, I urge everyone to see this wonderful show.