Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 4: Digital Era (1960s)
1966
Composition with Squares and "Walk-through-Raster” by Frieder Nake
Nake won the first prize of the 1966 Computers and Automation contest with an untitled drawing of small squares, recorded by Compart as Zufällige Zeichenverteilung (1965). Nake then wrote about his other significant 1966 work, Walk-Through-Raster (plotter drawings). Underscoring the importance of mathematics in his work, Nake wrote about Walk-Through-Raster:
“The secrets behind algorithmic art can really be fathomed only when we allow for mathematical descriptions.”
Nake used the ALGOL 60 programming language and the Z64 Graphomat plotter.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random.
Sources
People
Movements
computer art, generative art
Filed under
- Ideas
- Algorithmic Art, generative art, mathematics, randomness
- Technologies
- ALGOL 60, computer art, computer-generated drawings, plotter, Plotter Art, programming, Zuse Graphomat Z 64
- People
- Frieder Nake
- Works
- Composition with Squares, Walk-Through-Raster, Zufällige Zeichenverteilung
- Organisations
- compArt, Computers and Automation, Raster
Related moments
Echoes across time
- 1983 · Harold Cohen’s Arnolfini Series
- 2025 · Frieder Nake Wins 2025 ACM SIGGRAPH Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in Digital Art
- 1985 · Mark Wilson, Skew J17
Le Random editorials
- Frieder Nake on “Machinic” Miracles, Peter Bauman, July 10, 2024
- Hans Ulrich Obrist on Exhibitions as Living Organisms, Peter Bauman, September 1, 2025
- Gottfried Jäger on a New Kind of Being, Anika Meier, March 2, 2026
- A. Michael Noll on When It All Started, A. Michael Noll, March 25, 2025
Le Random podcast
- Interview with Frieder Nake — listen with transcript on Le Random (16 Jul 2024, 41 min). Featuring Frieder Nake. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 3—Analog Era (1950s) with Georg Bak — listen with transcript on Le Random (10 Aug 2023, 65 min). Transcript mentions Frieder Nake. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt II (1960s) with Michael Spalter — listen with transcript on Le Random (21 Sep 2023, 77 min). Transcript mentions Frieder Nake. Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt I (1960s) with Dr A Michael Noll — listen with transcript on Le Random (07 Sep 2023, 60 min). Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify