Early 1950s and 1960s computer art

A modern computer artist, [Amy Goodchild] studies the history of computer art of the 1950s and 1960s. With so much attention currently focused on AI-generated artwork, we must remember that computers have been used to create art for many decades.

Our story begins in 1950 when Ben Laposky began using long exposure photography from cathode ray oscilloscopes to record moving signals generated by electronic circuits. In 1953 Gordon Pask developed the MusiColor electromechanical system. MusiColor allowed musicians to control visual elements including lights, patterns, and motorized color wheels using the sound of their instruments. Musicians could interact with the system in real-time audiovisual jam sessions.

In the early 1960s, BEFLIX (derived from Bell Flix) was developed by Ken Knowlton at Bell Labs as a programming language for generating video animations. The Graphic 1 computer with an illuminated pen input device was also developed at Bell Labs. Around the same time, IBM introduced new visualization technology in the IBM 2250 graphics display for its System/360 computer. The 1967 IBM promotional film Frontiers in Computer Graphics demonstrates the capabilities of the system.

From the humble beginnings of computer art, the boundaries between science, engineering, and art have continued to blur as program code, algorithms, and technical systems have established their place in the art world. Explorations of generative computer art in fields such as chance, chaos, electromechanics, psychology, human vision, cellular automata and robotics expressed in various creative manifestations such as print, music, video, photography, typography, dance, mobiles and sculpture.< /p>

In 1965, computer-generated art was presented for the first time in a gallery exhibition. Despite skepticism, interest in the medium grew and spread around the world. In 1968, the Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition at the London Institute of Contemporary Arts inspired tens of thousands of visitors before continuing to tour the United States and resulting in the formation of the British Computer Arts Society "to promote understanding of role of digital. and Electronic Media in the Arts.”

Enjoy the art of modern technology from [Amy] in our coverage of her When in Dome interactive installation and her tutorial on creating beautiful light objects using Fadecandy and LEDs.