QUATER II:

TECHNOLOGY-
BASED ART
COMPUTER/DIGITAL ARTS

Origin and Early Stages

Computer art or digital art first came on the scene in the early
1960s. Understandably, this was due to technology that was
constantly developing and that became available at the time.
Thus, the early experiments were not necessarily artists, but
engineers and scientist who had access to and experience with
the hardware needed. It was they who began to recognize the
potential of artistic expression through the application of
scientific and mathematical principles.
In fact, even in the sample works presented here, you will note a strong scientific
or mathematical look and feel to the creations of many digital artists. Geometric
forms and repeating patterns appear frequently. More traditional subjects like
human beings, landscapes, animals, and still- life elements are simply incorporated
as part of those forms and patterns-rather than as the main focus.

Also understandable was the initial reaction of the public to computer-generated

art. There were questions as to whether it was, in fact, TRUE ART since it made
use of electronic and mechanical devices, rather than the artists own hand, to
produce the images and effects. Within a few years, however, there was a general
acceptance of digital arts as an exciting and thought-provoking form of modern art.
Exhibits of computer art became highly popular and critically acclaimed, as digital
artists or computer art masters or SUPERSTARS came to fore in Europe,
Russia, and the United States.
A Sampling of their works can be seen here.

Polygon Drawings
Frieder Nake, 1965
Schrotter (GRAVEL)
Georg Nees, c. 1965
(Des) Ordres Mountain and Staurolyte
Vera Molnar, 1974 Ronald Davis, 1997
Plotter drawing Computer-generated 3D art
 Olga Kisseleva, 2012 Jean-Pierre Hebert,
Manfred Mohr, 2007
1999
The Philippine Scene

In our country, Filipino artists were likewise influenced by the technology trend
in art. However, this was more I the commercial sphere. From the 1960s to the
1990s their computer-generated works were primarily geared toward illustrating
for international comic books. In fact, Filipino illustrators earned quite reputation
for their talents and were highly in demand in this field. They eventually became
equally soughts after as animators for some of the major film production
companies I the United States, as well as animated television series produced
different countries.

Eventually,however, the concept of computer-generated works as a means of

serious artistic expression gained ground among the younger generation of local
artists. Today, even the more established names in the field names in the field-
artists and critics alike- have come to accept employing digital art techniques.
Cityscape
Antonio Gorodo, c. 2010-2012
Digital art
DIGITAL ART IN THE HANDS OF EVERYONE

COMPUTER/DIGITAL ARTS make use of electronic

and mechanical devices, rather than the artists own
hand, to produce the desired images and effects.
Thus, these are definitely technology-based art
forms. In recent decades, personal gadgets such as
Laptops, Tablets, and Android phones have
incorporated the artistic capabilities of the large-
scale computers: so it is now possible for anyone to
be a digital artist.
THE END