Not currently on display at the V&A

PSC31

Print
2003 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mark Wilson is considered to be one of the pioneers of digital image making. In 1980, Wilson’s interest in geometricism and technology led him to purchase a microcomputer and to teach himself computer programming. The result was a series of early monochrome plotter drawings, produced in the late eighties and early nineties, of which three are now in the Patric Prince Collection at the V&A. Wilson subsequentely adapted the software that he had written for the plotter drawings, and created digital files that were sent to a large format archival printer to produce highly detailed prints such as this one. The digital file was generated using the PostScript programming language, which ensured that the images could be printed out as the artist intended.

To create large digital prints such as this one, Wilson ran the computer software several times to produce a large number of images. He then selected and saved the images he considered most successful, and drew them together to produce one composite image that combined elements of the images already produced. The final appearance of the print was dependent on the artist's own editing process.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePSC31 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Digital inkjet print on Somerset paper
Brief description
Digital inkjet print on paper, 'PSC31', by Mark Wilson, 2003.
Physical description
Colour digital inkjet print on Somerset paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 111.4cm
  • Width: 91.9cm
Copy number
5 of 5
Marks and inscriptions
"'PSC31" 2003 5/5 © Mark Wilson' (In pen in lower right corner, title, date, edition no., copyright, and artist's signature)
Gallery label
Mark Wilson born 1943 PSC31 2003 In his earlier work, Wilson used pen plotters to create highly complex images. He then switched to using large format inkjet printers, developing his own software to create prints such as this one. The computer program selects the shapes and colours. The artist then chooses which versions should be printed. Digital inkjet print Given by Mark Wilson Museum no. E.533-2008(07/12/2009 - 20/06/2010)
Credit line
Given by Mark Wilson
Subject depicted
Summary
Mark Wilson is considered to be one of the pioneers of digital image making. In 1980, Wilson’s interest in geometricism and technology led him to purchase a microcomputer and to teach himself computer programming. The result was a series of early monochrome plotter drawings, produced in the late eighties and early nineties, of which three are now in the Patric Prince Collection at the V&A. Wilson subsequentely adapted the software that he had written for the plotter drawings, and created digital files that were sent to a large format archival printer to produce highly detailed prints such as this one. The digital file was generated using the PostScript programming language, which ensured that the images could be printed out as the artist intended.

To create large digital prints such as this one, Wilson ran the computer software several times to produce a large number of images. He then selected and saved the images he considered most successful, and drew them together to produce one composite image that combined elements of the images already produced. The final appearance of the print was dependent on the artist's own editing process.
Bibliographic references
  • Wood, Debora. Imaging by Numbers: A Historical View of the Computer Print. Northwestern University Press, 2008. Catalogue of the exhibition held at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Illinois, 18 January - 6 April, 2008. ISBN 0-8101-2505-6.
  • Wands, Bruce. Art of the digital age. London: Thames & Hudson, 2006. p.74
  • Reas, Casey, & McWilliams, Chandler. Form+Code in Design, Art, and Architecture. Princeton, 2010.
  • Digital pioneers / [Honor Beddard and Douglas Dodds]. London: V&A Publishing, 2009. ISBN 9781851775873 Image no. 43
Collection
Accession number
E.533-2008

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Record createdDecember 17, 2008
Record URL
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