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My Last Desire

Plotter Drawing
1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

American artist Lloyd Sumner (1943-1996) was one of the earliest pioneers to use the computer solely for aesthetic means, and his publication Computer Art and Human Response (1968) was the first text devoted entirely to an individual computer art practice. The monograph is an early example of a publication that included technical explanations on how to produce computer art.
Sumner started producing computer generated pictures in 1964 when he worked at the Computer Science Center at the University of Virginia. It was here he had access to a B5500 Burroughs computer and CalComp 565 plotter. Sumner made his works using extended ALGOL programming language and produced plotter drawings characterised by smooth curved lines.
This print was made in c.1968, the same year that Sumner exhibited his art at 'Cybernetic Serendipity' at the ICA, London and 'Tendencies 4' in Zagreb. Sumner made a career out of his computer art by marketing his work under the title 'Computer Creations'. He used the proceeds to fund his famous round-the-world bike ride expedition – documented in his travel memoir The Long Ride (1978).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMy Last Desire (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Ink, paper, plotter drawing
Brief description
My Last Desire, c.1968, plotter drawing by Lloyd Sumner
Physical description
Orange spiral design
Dimensions
  • Length: 39.2cm
  • Height: 28cm
Credit line
Given by the Computer Arts Society, supported by System Simulation Ltd, London
Summary
American artist Lloyd Sumner (1943-1996) was one of the earliest pioneers to use the computer solely for aesthetic means, and his publication Computer Art and Human Response (1968) was the first text devoted entirely to an individual computer art practice. The monograph is an early example of a publication that included technical explanations on how to produce computer art.
Sumner started producing computer generated pictures in 1964 when he worked at the Computer Science Center at the University of Virginia. It was here he had access to a B5500 Burroughs computer and CalComp 565 plotter. Sumner made his works using extended ALGOL programming language and produced plotter drawings characterised by smooth curved lines.
This print was made in c.1968, the same year that Sumner exhibited his art at 'Cybernetic Serendipity' at the ICA, London and 'Tendencies 4' in Zagreb. Sumner made a career out of his computer art by marketing his work under the title 'Computer Creations'. He used the proceeds to fund his famous round-the-world bike ride expedition – documented in his travel memoir The Long Ride (1978).
Collection
Accession number
E.2701-2016

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Record createdSeptember 18, 2015
Record URL
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