Page 38 - Studio International - November 1974

Subsequent lectures are by Colin art, but as just an aspect, of the alliance
Emmett, of the Computer Aided between technology and art.'
Design Centre at Cambridge, on Brian White
computer animation systems and films, [The address of South Hill Park arts
Edward Ihnatowicz of University centre is South Hill Park, Bracknell
College, London, on dynamic and RG4 PA.]
interactive sculptures, and John
Lansdown on the computer for dance
and theatre. The last two lectures will
be on automated electronic music, by The 'Garage' enterprise
Peter Zinovieff of Electronic Music
Studios, and 'complex systems for art The closure of Kasmin's Bond Street
and life', by George Mallen of the Gallery startled everyone but the
Royal College of Art. 'Underlying all greatest disappointment must have
these different approaches and media', been felt by his artists. Wishful-hoping
says Sutcliffe, 'there are many aspects for a new warehouse space languished
in common in the use of computers.' in a year of the new, snug, Clifford
Common introductory courses should Street outfit. Continual nudges from
equip the artist, musician, etc., to work his artists finally transpired when
in his own sphere, hopefully using the Terence Conran suggested a space. In
Martin Naylor, one of Five Chairs from which to view the World Site A
computer as a creative partner, but three months the Garage had opened.
anyway able to save time on a project Conran had arty connections; a
A large symbolist show is being planned even if only concerned at that point partnership with Kasmin in the Neal
Computer Arts
for 1976 by the Rotterdam Boymans- with realisation. A Stockhausen piece Street Restaurant, where the head-
van-Beuningen Museum; the works If you're going to set up a computer which originally took three months to waiter, Charles, is the son of Robin
will also be shown in Paris, Brussels arts centre, it could either be in a field make in a studio by normal methods, Campbell, Director of the Arts Council
and Baden-Baden. or a technopolis. Achieving a kind of was realised in one day using a and Bernie Jacobson's print gallery was
rural 1984-ish compromise, the new computerised system. Animation in housed underneath Conran's West-End
The International Art Centre has South Hill Park computer arts centre particular can learn from this showrooms. Conran had found the
opened at 107/111 Newington Butts, will be located in a technopolis production-oriented experience. perfect premises in Covent Garden,
Elephant and Castle, London SE1. standing where a field used to be — in Sutcliffe sees the need for more opposite his restaurant. It was
(Tel: 01-703 0784). There is 10,000 the New Town of Bracknell, Berks. development of art languages for inspected and approved. Kasmin and
square feet of exhibition space and a Close neighbours include, to select a computer programming — the writing, Conran each invested £6,000. Dick
theatre, studios etc. Wall space can be random bunch, International in a sense, of an (art language) to Smith and Anthony Caro each gave
hired for about 30p per week per Computers, Sperry, Honeywell, Farranti (computer language) dictionary. £1,000. Howard Hodgkin was
painting and the director, Kim Wall, and the Met. Office computer centre. 'These languages are going to allow the sympathetic but unable to join this
seems very open to suggestions for the Local industry is being asked for physical realisation of the output `kasmopolitan' crew because he is a
use of the space. computing equipment, to be housed in without any drawing skill at all, and Trustee of the Tate Gallery. Kasmin
the converted mansion alongside are going to allow — some already do — persuaded David Hockney to provide
Art of Systems in Latin America is at already existing arts facilities. The the easy implementation of another £1,000 and the budget was
the Institute of Contemporary Arts, house was built in 1760 by William compositional rules. When these two rounded off at £16,000, by 'chipping
London, in December; accompanying things are brought together, the artist in' for the manager, Martin Attwood.
Watts, and in its time has seen William
it is a 'Latin American Week' from is moved away from the equipment, Attwood had a Corsham, East Anglia
Pitt, George Canning, various Earls of
November 29 to December 5, with a
Limerick and, astoundingly, the he doesn't need to be so aware of it. University and British Council pedigree.
'Round Table on Art and Culture in What he needs to know is what the He had known Kasmin and Smith for
Margate Sea Bathing Hospital. A
the Third World' (November 30 at
programme of six weekly lectures on language is, and I think on the whole some time and he was amicably
noon), theatrical events, films and
computers in the arts began on 30 that's easier, certainly for some artists, accepted by the other directors. Kasmin
video tapes by 'Third World Editions
September, while the equipment than having to worry about ordinary told Vogue, 'He is 30 years old and
Co-operative', concerts, films by Latin should be operating early next year. programming languages and computer our link with the 70s'. More
American artists and a lecture by Jorge A series of familiarisation courses for equipment. problematic was the choice of a gallery
Glusberg. artists will lead into workshops, and 'The trouble with computer secretary. Attwood suggested a
the first results should be seen in March languages is that no-one really knows partnership with Tony Stokes. He was
Arab oil paintings. A London dealer, or April, during a week or more of what artists want to do. It's hard also an ex-Corsham student who had
Roy Miles, has been retained by a special events. I spoke to Alan Sutcliffe enough to design languages for worked for the Arnolfini Gallery in
Middle East consortium to assemble an of the Computer Arts Society, who is engineers: with artists, it's nearly Bristol and the Stuyvesant Foundation,
Old Master collection over the next one of the instigators of the scheme, impossible ... whatever else is true, before arriving in London as an
three years. Among the first and who gave the first lecture, on there is no such thing as a universal administrator and fund raiser for Max
acquisitions reported are works by computer graphics. 'When people see general-purpose art language, there can Gordon's ill-fated Kings Square
Gainsborough, Stubbs and Casteels. the first products of the set-up, we can only be a more or less specialized one, project. Kasmin and the board were
Mr Miles is believed to have been asked say, "well, this is only the beginning, suitable for some thing for some people. less enthusiastic. They wanted an
by the consortium to avoid purchasing here's what we'd really like to do", and 'One thing that puzzles me is that, individual in command with whom
through salerooms as far as possible. hopefully we'll convince them that it's given the quite large number of people collectors could identify. They also
not just a game or a pastime — I don't interested in systems art, there's only a felt that Stokes's 'energetic and
The Musee du Luxembourg's current like to say "serious", but an important small number of people showing any forceful personality', and his sympathies
exhibition of paintings hung in the business, which calls for very degree of sophistication in the with conceptualism, might cause
Musee in 1874 at the same time as sophisticated techniques. application of computers to graphics. problems. However, Attwood was
Nadar was showing the 'Exposition des `The six lectures, if I exclude my I suppose the skills and abilities don't insistent and equal salaries and almost
Impressionistes' brings a reminder of own, are all by people who have done often come together in the same person. equal responsibilities were agreed for
the high prices brought by French worthwhile things, and have got real It's more often as a couple or a group. him and Stokes.
academic painters at the time, the same practical experience. It's not going to Ken Knowlton, the inventor of an art Meanwhile Conran Associates
painters whose works now begin to be philosophical or theoretical, but language called EXPLOR, must have redesigned the space. Time was more
pass through international salerooms people talking about and showing the co-authored more papers on graphics crucial than money and the
at re-inflated prices. For his The kind of things they've done.' and films than anyone else.' transformation cost £9,000. The lease
Emperor at SoIférino and the minute In the first lecture, Stucliffe How does he see the centre was for 9 months, with a 50% chance
The Emperor with his Etat-major discussed computer graphics in terms developing awareness of what can be of renewal, depending on GLC planning
Meissonier received Fr. 50,000 in 1864. of drawing a distinction between using done? 'Well, there's a lot to be said for for Covent Garden. If the lease was
In 1873 Gerome was paid Fr. 20,000 a computer merely to realise an already working as some kind of loosely not renewed, they would probably be
for his Cock fight (his Cairo carpet wholly conceived design — as in the connected group, where people can rehoused or compensated, so there was
merchant was sold for £8,690 at Parke well-known 'programmer's nude', a learn from one another, simply because no great risk with the property aspect
Bernet this October). Fromentin's reclining female figure drawn artists are still very nervous of of their investment. The Garage
small-sized La Curie cost the State typographically by means of the computers. As well as graphics, films opened on the 6 November 1973 with
Fr 7,000 in 1863, and Giraud's Devisa computer's teletype output — and the and so on, we hope to have, eventually, a respectable exhibition of new
the same sum in 1869, while Feyen's more interesting case whereby the the means for controlling electronic paintings by Dick Smith. Kas swung
Harvesters of the sea cost Fr 10,000 in programme contains the whole music equipment, interactive sculpture, the publicity machine into action:
1872. All were bought by the State, composing process, the aim being to light systems, in fact any dynamic Covent Garden was to become
at prices somewhat below prevailing see what kind of work will emerge equipment anyone may care to build. London's downtown, like Soho in New
market prices. (For a comparison with from this algorithm or set of rules. 'I think it's very important to see York. Again in Vogue, he said,
present French francs, multiply by 10.) The conception is of a procedure, the use of computers in art not as very 'hopefully we'll attract the fringe
Compiled by Paul Martin not a design. separate from what else is going on in galleries — Lisson and Nigel