Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MB2E, Shelf DR51

Untitled

Drawing
1964 (made)
Artist/Maker
Henry, Desmond Paul (artist)
Place of origin
England (made)

In the 1960s Henry constructed various drawing machines from the components of analogue bombsight computers. Henry was fascinated by the swinging motion of the machines and adapted them to accommodate pen and paper. His drawing machines were operated electronically, but could not be programmed.


Object details

Category
Computer Art
Object type
Drawing
TitleUntitled (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Mechanical pen and ink drawing
Paper
Ink
Mechanical Drawing
Brief description
Pen and ink machine drawing on paper, Untitled, by Desmond Paul Henry, 1964.
Physical description
Mechanical drawing, white ink on black paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28cm
  • Length: 21.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Henry/64' (Artist's signature and date, in white ink in lower left side.)
Gallery label
  • Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers (2018) DESMOND PAUL HENRY (1921–2004) Untitled UK, 1964 In the 1960s, Desmond Paul Henry constructed three drawing machines using parts obtained from analogue bombsight computers. Fascinated by the swinging motion of the machines, he adapted them to accommodate pen and paper. The devices could not be programmed, and their technical limitations sometimes created unexpected results. Henry’s second machine was displayed in Cybernetic Serendipity. Mechanical pen and ink drawing Given by Elaine O’Hanrahan Museum no. E.378-2009(07/07/2018-18/11/2018)
  • Desmond Paul Henry 1921-2004 Untitled 1964 In the 1960s Henry constructed various drawing machines from the components of analogue bombsight computers. Henry was fascinated by the swinging motion of the machines and adapted them to accommodate pen and paper. His drawing machines were operated electronically, but could not be programmed. Mechanical pen and ink drawing Given by Elaine O'Hanrahan Museum no. E.378-2009(07/12/2009 - 20/06/2010)
Credit line
Given by Elaine O'Hanrahan
Summary
In the 1960s Henry constructed various drawing machines from the components of analogue bombsight computers. Henry was fascinated by the swinging motion of the machines and adapted them to accommodate pen and paper. His drawing machines were operated electronically, but could not be programmed.
Bibliographic reference
Breward, C. and Wood, G. (eds) (2012) British Design from 1948: Innovation in the Modern Age, London: V&A Publishing, p.372
Other number
EOH no. 079-2-64 L-S-I-W-B-H - Previous owner's number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.378-2009

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O499536/untitled-drawing-henry-desmond-paul/
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