Frieder Nake
Recent works
Artworks created by Frieder Nake since 2010, for his group and solo exhibitions in art galleries.
Generative Aesthetics (1968-69)
This series was created with a program developed by Nake, taking inspiration from the theory of information aesthetics. Starting from a set of data, it tried to construct an image following a set of conditions described in the data. The artist run a series of experiments but finally discarded the program. Only two prints were produced, one of which is lost, and the other is in the collection Etzold at Museum Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
Matrix multiplication (1967-68)
This portfolio is made of three separate series, which were generated from a square matrix produced by Nake on a Telefunken T4 computer. The matrix was multiplied successively by itself, creating new matrices that translated into images made of visual signs of a particular form and colour. Given that Nake used random number generation in this work during this period, the multiplication process was probably partly automated. The portfolio was published by the artist Hansjörg Mayer in an edition of forty (Spalter Digital).
Walk-Through Raster (1966)
In 1966, Nake used the Walk-through-Raster software in the ALGOL 60 programming language to create as series of computer-generated drawings on paper. The drawings were produced by a ZUSE-Graphomat Z64.
compArt ER56 (1963-65)
This phase refers to the artworks created by Frieder Nake using an electronic computer ER 56, which was installed in the Institute for Applied Mathematics in 1959. Among others, Nake created the series Zufälliger Polygonzug, Geradenscharen, and Rechteckschraffuren, between 1964 and 1965.