The Algorithmic Dimension

Fifty years after the first experiments in computational art, international interest in the history of this subject remains strong and at the same time almost uncovered. This book began with the exhibition Algorithmic Signs, which was conceived, researched and curated by Francesca Franco in Venice in 2017. The origins of the exhibition included a series of meetings that gathered together the most celebrated international pioneers in the world of digital arts and the rare opportunity to interview them in their studios. Francesca Franco explores the history of computer art and its contribution to the broader field of contemporary art from the 1960s to the present. It is illustrated by the creative work of five of the most influential pioneers of computer art - Ernest Edmonds, Manfred Mohr, Vera Molnár, Frieder Nake, and Roman Verostko and includes the full visual documentation of the exhibition. The Algorithmic Dimension - Five Artists in Conversation offers more than a theoretical perspective; it offers readers the rare opportunity to hear the histories and developments of the fascinating art, created through the algorithm, in an accessible and stimulating narrative. The personal achievements of each artist are followed, including their original inspirations, and how they develop in parallel with technological advances. It also brings together for the first time the artists' common ideas and differences, and tales about how their paths have crossed over the years.