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Computerscape

Photograph
ca. 1980 (made)
Artist/Maker

Darrell Viner (1946-2001) was a pioneering sculptor who worked with movement, sound and light. He explored the potential of computers in art and used new technology to create his kinetic and interactive work. He first used computers in his artistic practice whilst studying sculpture at Hornsey College of Art (1971-1974). It was here that he met and worked with computer graphics pioneer John Vince, who was working on the development of PICASO, one of the first computer art packages. Viner was instrumental in encouraging Vince to develop Rough and Sketch, a feature of PICASO which transformed the clean, clinical computer-generated plotted lines into believable hand-drawn shapes.

Viner used the computer to explore transformation in drawing and animation. He identified the computer as a tool to facilitate his aims, and learnt to write in code, constructing his own hardware and programs. This 'computerscape’ photographic print demonstrates his experimental use of digital imagery. Similar imagery is used in ‘Inside/Outside’ (1977), an animated film created by Viner and Allan Hume, a technician at University College London. The film was drawn by a virtual automaton, programmed to simulate the actions of a kinetic sculpture.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleComputerscape (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Photographic print
Brief description
'Computerscape', photographic print of digital imagery by Darrell Viner, ca. 1980
Physical description
Photographic print of a computer generated image showing blue and purple geometrical forms
Dimensions
  • Height: 91.4cm
  • Length: 61cm
Marks and inscriptions
On reverse of orginial mount: Computerscape 2424/10 109 [value] [address]
Summary
Darrell Viner (1946-2001) was a pioneering sculptor who worked with movement, sound and light. He explored the potential of computers in art and used new technology to create his kinetic and interactive work. He first used computers in his artistic practice whilst studying sculpture at Hornsey College of Art (1971-1974). It was here that he met and worked with computer graphics pioneer John Vince, who was working on the development of PICASO, one of the first computer art packages. Viner was instrumental in encouraging Vince to develop Rough and Sketch, a feature of PICASO which transformed the clean, clinical computer-generated plotted lines into believable hand-drawn shapes.

Viner used the computer to explore transformation in drawing and animation. He identified the computer as a tool to facilitate his aims, and learnt to write in code, constructing his own hardware and programs. This 'computerscape’ photographic print demonstrates his experimental use of digital imagery. Similar imagery is used in ‘Inside/Outside’ (1977), an animated film created by Viner and Allan Hume, a technician at University College London. The film was drawn by a virtual automaton, programmed to simulate the actions of a kinetic sculpture.

Other number
2424/10
Collection
Accession number
E.336-2011

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Record createdJuly 12, 2011
Record URL
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