Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 4: Digital Era (1960s)
1967–68
Running Cola is Africa by Computer Technique Group (CTG)
This iconic plotter drawing, exhibited at Cybernetic Serendipity, was created in 1967 and 1968 by CTG at the IBM Scientific Data Centre in Tokyo.
The work is described in the Cybernetic Serendipity catalog as follows: “A computer algorithm converts a running man into a bottle of cola, which in turn is converted into the map of Africa.” Masao Kohmura, CTG co-founder, was credited with the concept.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
Sources
People
Movements
computer art
Filed under
- Ideas
- generative art, transformation
- Technologies
- algorithms, computer art, cybernetics, plotter, Plotter Art
- People
- Masao Kohmura
- Works
- Running Cola is Africa
- Exhibitions
- Cybernetic Serendipity
- Organisations
- Computer Technique Group, IBM, IBM Scientific Data Centre
- Places
- Tokyo
Related moments
- 1966 · CTG Pioneers Digital Generative Systems
- 1969 · Computer Technique Group (CTG) Disbands
- 1969 · CTG Participates in the Paris Biennale
- 1969 · International Psytech Art exhibition – Electromagica ’69
- 1968 · Cybernetic Serendipity Defines a Movement
Echoes across time
- 1985 · Mark Wilson, Skew J17
- 1985 · Emerging Expressions at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York
- 1989 · Roman Verostko, Carnival, Pathway Series
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