Art Funded by you

1) Polygonzug 6/7/64 Nr. 2; 2) Rechteckschraffen 30/3/65 Nr. 1-4; 3-6) Quadrate Werden Rot

Frieder Nake, 1) 1964; 2) 1965; 3–6) 1966

In 1963, while studying at the Technical University in Stuttgart, Frieder Nake developed a computer program to control a Zuse Graphomat drawing machine. Nake used the machine to create some of the world’s first computer-generated drawings, which he exhibited alongside works by his colleague Georg Nees at the Wendelin Niedlich Gallery in 1965. Together with Michael Noll, who was exhibiting his own computer-generated images in New York during the mid-1960s, Nake and Nees were known as the ‘3n’ – the forefathers of digital art. Created between 1964 and 1966, the six works acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum are among Nake’s earliest computer-generated works. Polygonzug shows an apparently random polygonal shape generated by Nake’s algorithms, while Rechteckschraffen is made up of four groups of rectangular hatchings in overlapping blocks – some monochrome, others in colour. The later group Quadrate Werden Rot (‘Squares Turning Red’) features four grids of green squares, overlaid with a growing number of red squares.

More information

Title of artwork, date

1) Polygonzug 6/7/64 Nr. 2; 2) Rechteckschraffen 30/3/65 Nr. 1-4; 3-6) Quadrate Werden Rot, 1) 1964; 2) 1965; 3–6) 1966

Date supported

2014

Medium and material

Ink on paper

Dimensions

1) 48 x 48 cm; 2) 47 x 47 cm; 3)-6) 44 x 44 cm (each)

Grant

6000

Total cost

12698

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

Art Funded by you FAQs

Contact us

If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.