Stephen Scrivener

Stephen Scrivener
Untitled (1983)
Computer Printout

Stephen Scrivener studied Fine Art at Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University) from 1969 to 1972. Entering art school as a painter, he became increasingly dissatisfied with subjectively determined art making and inspired by the experimental artists working in the college, such as Jack Rodway and Gavin Bryars, he produced experimental works exploiting the natural properties of light and water. In 1972 he joined the Experimental Department at the Slade School of Fine Art, London, directed by the Systems Artist, Malcolm Hughes, where he soon made the shift to using computational systems to make artworks. During this period he modelled and visualised a variety of homeostatic systems. This included the design of a stand alone electronic device, called The Machine, that viewers could disrupt by interacting with a control panel.

After undertaking a PhD in Computer Science, he taught and conducted research into interactive computer systems design before returning to the art school in the late 1990s, culminating in his appointment as Head of Research at Chelsea College of Art. Since returning to the art school he has written widely on the theory and practice of artistic research. Today he works in a wide variety of media, including installation and he is currently Emeritus Professor at Chelsea and Visiting Professor at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication.

Links

Computer Arts Society Archive

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