Computer art
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Computer art is any art in which computers played a role in production or display of the artwork.
Computer art is by nature evolutionary, it relies on rapid changes in technology and software for the substance of its creative work. With so many traditional disciplines integrating digital technologies, the lines between traditional works of art and new media works created by computers continue to blur. Defining computer art by its end product proves to be quite difficult, the finished work can exist as an image, sound, animation, video, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Web site, algorithm, performance or gallery installation. The only true definition of computer generated art can be found with the creator, a person who in fact uses the computer as his or her primary tool.
Joan Shogren, San Jose State University, wrote a computer program based on artistic principles and then used the San Jose State University computers to create the first "computer art" in the world. The first public showing of computer art was held in San Jose, California on May 6th, 1963 (San Jose Mercury News). One of the first computer-generated pictures was chosen by the IBM Corporation as a mural to be placed on the side of one of its buildings in San Jose, California. [citation needed]
The most recent evolution of computer art where the computer is allowed to create the art uses the evolutionary computing and Swarm principles. However, many of the pioneers of the genre disagree with the idea of considering this type of output a form of art. Italian artist Aldo Giorgini, one of the trailblazers who fought for the recognition of computer art as a valid art form said in a 1974 interview that "serendipitous or accidental computer art is not to be considered a valid art form," albeit that it "can serve as an exploratory device or as a source of ideas." To further reinforce the point, Giorgini states that "using a 'canned' program is like choosing one work from 100 paintings in a gallery, and then calling it your own."
Artists are now embracing various forms of computer art, combining traditional painting with algorithm art and other digital techniques. This type of art is also beginning to appear in art museum exhibits, often featuring artists such as James Faure Walker.
