Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 4: Digital Era (1960s)
1969
International Psytech Art exhibition – Electromagica ’69

The landmark exhibition and symposium held at the Sogetsu Hall in Tokyo featured Kinetic, Light, and Lumino-Kinetic works from Japan, Western Europe and North America. Its installations utilized the tools of mass media including lasers, UV, strobe lights, TVs and various other electronics. Computer Technique Group (CTG) exhibited their works Thermo Field (a thermal painting machine) and Plotting Field. For Plotting Field, the group used a CalComp plotter to produce iterations of their John F. Kennedy images. Besides CTG, several other prominent artists participated in the exhibition. Katsuhiro Yamaguchi showed his Image Modulator made from a TV and glass. Nicholas Schöffer exhibited Chrons 8, a two-meter high steel and light, mechanized sculpture. Finally, Minoru Yoshida of the Gutai group exhibited the cybernetic, mechanized sculpture, EP3. This exhibition further demonstrates the connection between Lumino-Kinetic Art and computer art, as well as the international nature of the movement.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random.
Sources
People
John F. Kennedy, Katsuhiro Yamaguchi, Minoru Yoshida, Nicolas Schöffer
Movements
computer art, generative art, Gutai, kinetic art, light art, Lumino-Kinetic Art
Filed under
- Ideas
- generative art, light art, Lumino-Kinetic Art, mass media, Psytech Art, tools
- Technologies
- CalComp plotter, computer art, cybernetics, kinetic art, kinetic sculpture, laser, plotter, Plotter Art, television
- People
- John F. Kennedy, Katsuhiro Yamaguchi, Minoru Yoshida, Nicolas Schöffer
- Works
- Chronos 8, EP3, Image Modulator, Plotting Field, Thermo Field
- Exhibitions
- Electromagica '69
- Organisations
- Computer Technique Group, Gutai, Sogetsu Hall
- Places
- Japan, North America, Tokyo, Western Europe
Related moments
- 1969 · Computer Technique Group (CTG) Disbands
- 1954 · Gutai Movement in Japan
- 1969 · CTG Participates in the Paris Biennale
- 1967–68 · Running Cola is Africa by Computer Technique Group (CTG)
- 1966 · CTG Pioneers Digital Generative Systems
Echoes across time
- 1930 · Light Prop for an Electric Stage by László Moholy-Nagy
- 2020 · INTANGIBLE FORMS by Shohei Fujimoto
Le Random editorials
Le Random podcast
- 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
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt II (1960s) with Michael Spalter — listen with transcript on Le Random (21 Sep 2023, 77 min). Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify