Roman Verostko, the grandfather of computer art

startribune.com

19 points·justinph··6 comments

If you are interested in the long history of computer art, check the work of Manfred Mohr and Vera Molnar: they both started around the mid 60s, using science computers and plotters. Nice pictures here: http://dam.org/artists/phase-one/vera-molnar/artworks-bodies...

Heck, I've been doing computer art longer than this guy. In 76 we had a graphics display with a printer at the UofIowa; we made all sorts of interesting spirograph-style plots.

In "art culture" only those who succeed commercially are artists.

I think that's a bit of a strawman--though I agree with your sentiment--because to be a "grandfather" of something assumes you've had an influence on the next generations. And in this case, yes, you gotta stand out (not necessarily commercially, as many works of art, records etc were a flop but highly influential in the decades after.)

Verostko is represented by DAM Gallery in Berlin. I had the pleasure to see some of his works in real life in the exhibition Frieder Nake a & Friends at the same place. If you're in Berlin, check out the gallery. Right now Vera Molnar is exhibited. (Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the gallery.)

Ben F. Laposky was doing electronic art with oscilloscopes and electric circuits back in 1953. Some have commented he was the first computer artist, but not sure if his equipment would classify as a computer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_F._Laposky

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