Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 5: Artist-Programmer Era (1970s)
1973
M 3x3 by Analívia Cordeiro

The seminal work of Brazilian video and computer art pioneer, Analivia Cordeiro, M 3x3 is not only a work of generative choreography, it is also a work of video art. The piece syncs the movements of the cameras with the dancers who wear abstract geometric outfits in black and white. M 3x3 anticipates the merging of technology and dance while criticizing Brazil’s military dictatorship at the time. It also serves as a continual commentary on the influence of technology and society. From the Bright Moments Buenos Aires Timeline Poster: Computer art pioneer Waldemar Cordeiro advocated for the use of digital media in art the year following his Arteônica [art electronics] exhibition (1971), where he introduced his version of computer-aided design to the art world. His legacy extended through his daughter, Analivia Cordeiro, who embarked on pioneering research fusing dance and mathematics around the same time. Her creation, M 3x3, became Brazil’s first video art piece, debuting at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1973. It is also among the earliest video dance works globally.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random.
Sources
People
Analívia Cordeiro, Waldemar Cordeiro
Movements
Chance Dance, computer art, video art, Arteônica
Filed under
- Ideas
- Brazilian military dictatorship, Chance Dance, choreography, dance, Generative Choreography, mathematics, technology, video art
- Technologies
- computer art, computer-aided design
- People
- Analívia Cordeiro, Waldemar Cordeiro
- Works
- Arteônica, M 3x3
- Organisations
- Bright Moments, Edinburgh International Festival
- Places
- Brazil, Buenos Aires, Edinburgh, Scotland
Related moments
Echoes across time
- 1956 · Suite for Five by Merce Cunningham
- 2023 · Human Unreadable by Operator
- 1990 · Computers and the Creative Process at the University of Oregon Museum of Art
Le Random editorials
- Analívia Cordeiro on Perpetual Motion, Peter Bauman, July 17, 2024
- Ten Moments in South American Generative Art History, Peter Bauman, November 15, 2023
- Operator on Human Unreadable, Peter Bauman, November 21, 2023
Le Random podcast
- "Electric Dreams" in Conversation—Rebecca Allen, Analívia Cordeiro & Eduardo Kac — listen with transcript on Le Random (23 Dec 2024, 68 min). Featuring Analívia Cordeiro. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Elevating the Generative Art Space (Launch Episode) with Casey Reas, ciphrd, Anne Spalter, Anika Meier & Georg Bak — listen with transcript on Le Random (28 Jun 2023, 52 min). Transcript mentions Analívia Cordeiro. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 5—Artist-Programmer Era (1970s) with Joan Truckenbrod, Hans Dehlinger & Anika Meier — listen with transcript on Le Random (14 Jan 2024, 65 min). Chapter 5’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify