Art Ex Machina (portfolio)

The Art ex Machina portfolio introduced computer-generated work to the art market. Released in an edition of 200, it comprises six signed lithographs from the “Art ex Machina” exhibition at the Hansjörg Mayer Gallery in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1968, a short text from each artist, and an essay by Abraham Moles. With works by Hiroshi Kawano, Manuel Barbadillo, Kenneth C. Knowlton, Manfred Mohr, Frieder Nake, and Georg Nees, it showcases the beginnings of what we now know as computer art. The high print quality of the portfolio conferred legitimacy on the emerging genre, as did the academic tone of Moles’s introduction. The portfolio has found its way into prominent art collections and continues to serve as a visual reminder of the power of collaboration between man and machine.

A highlight of the portfolio is Kawano’s Untitled Red Tree, a compelling, vibrantly hued abstraction. His practice was rooted in a philosophical exploration between the strictness of mathematics and the unpredictability of computer-generated randomness. Kawano’s work is difficult to collect, as he donated his entire archive—including artworks, computer programs, correspondence, and publications—to the ZKM Karlsruhe, leaving very few of his works available on the market. Its inclusion in _Art ex Machina _is one reason why the portfolio is so sought-after.

Knowlton’s Untitled is another striking piece, luring the viewer in with its bright blues, purples, and greens. While at Bell Labs, Knowlton developed the program BEFLIX, one of the earliest programming languages for creating animated imagery for viewing on-screen.