Roman Verostko Debuts The Magic Hand of Chance Series

The Magic Hand of Chance Series (1982–85) was the legendary “Algorist’s” first foray into software work. It was inspired by the chance work of Dadaist Hans Arp.

Verostko wrote of the series: “My first effort with coded procedures attempted to use the operating system of the computer as the form generator. This would be a form of ‘computer automatism,’ miming the work of certain late Dada and early surrealist works.I had in mind especially how artists like Hans Arp had experimented with dropping torn shapes of paper on the floor to achieve a composition with ‘chance’” arrangements.”