Tue, 11 Feb 2014, 18:30 - 20:30
Phoenix
Free

Desmond Henry (1921-2004) Early British Computer Art Pioneer of the 1960s (www.desmondhenry.com). His donated works form part of the V & A's Digital Pioneers collection. He participated in the seminal Art and Technology exhibition: Cybernetic Serendipity in 1968.

During the 1960's Henry converted army surplus Bombsight Analogue Computers into a series of three mechanical drawing machines. His machine-generated images represent the permanent graphic reminders or 'performative trace' of the inner mechanical motions of the Bombsight Computer in action. His machines' reliance on a mechanics of chance, combined with their interactive features, set them apart from most other computer-generated art of the period.

Henry's distinct preference for restricting his experimental drawing production techniques to war time technology, means his drawing machines mark a transitional stage in Digital Art History, between the pre- WW2 Mechanical Age and the post- war Digital Age.

This talk will contextualise the inspiration, methods and visual results of Henry's 1960's drawing machines.

FREE entry