{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1034079"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1034079/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX5015/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX5015/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BX5015","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1034079","accessionNumber":"CIRC.776-1969","objectType":"Lithograph","titles":[{"title":"3D Checkerboard Pattern","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"3D Bug Pattern","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is one of a set of seven lithographs by different artists, published by Motif Editions in connection with <i>Cybernetic Serendipity</i>, a major exhibition held at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1968. The portfolio includes two works by the Computer Technique Group, plus single works by Charles Csuri and James Shaffer, William Fetter, Maughan S. Mason, Donald K. Robbins, and Kerry Strand. The complete set was acquired by the Museum in 1969, at a cost of £5.\n\nThe lithograph is derived from a plotter drawing by Donald K. Robbins. A version of the image also features on the poster for the <i>Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition,</i> plus the cover of the accompanying publication. \n\nThe book jacket describes the image as a \"3D computer design based upon the four-bug problem...\" In essence, this is a mathematical challenge. Four bugs at the corners of a square crawl clockwise at a constant rate, each moving directly towards its neighbour. At any instant the bugs form a square and, as they crawl towards one another, the square both decreases in size and rotates. With the use of cubes and perspective, Robbins has added a three-dimensional element to the \"four-bug\" image.\n\nAt the time when the original plotter drawing and lithograph were produced, Robbins worked for the Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Sandia National Laboratories were heavily involved in the development of nuclear weapon systems during and after World War Two. Early computer art was sometimes criticised for its reliance on mainframe computer systems that were generally only available to the military and research institutions.  ","physicalDescription":"Lithograph after a computer graphic, 3D checkerboard pattern","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Robbins, Donald K.","id":"AUTH320448"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT253822"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Motif Editions","id":"A23422"},"association":{"text":"Publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Lithography","id":"AAT53271"},{"text":"Plotter drawing","id":"x43893"},{"text":"plotter drawing","id":"x43893"},{"text":"lithography","id":"AAT53271"},{"text":"computer-aided design","id":"AAT54178"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lithograph after a computer-generated plotter drawing","categories":[{"text":"Computer Art","id":"THES49037"},{"text":"Printmaking techniques","id":"THES252987"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2009BX5015"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"MB2E","shelf":"DR51","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United States","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1968","earliest":"1968-01-01","latest":"1968-12-31"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x35383"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"28","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"21.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\r\n'3D Checkerboard Pattern,by D. K. Robbins (Sandia Corporation, Albuquerque). Computer Graphic from I.C.A. Exhibition Cybernetic Serendipity.  Published by Motif Editions ©. 58 Frith Street, London, W1\r\n","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This print was published by Motif Editions to accompany the exhibition Cybernetic Serendipity at the Institute of Contemporary Art, London in 1968.  It was the seventh print in a Cybernetic Serendipity portfolio and was referred to by the publishers as '3-dimensional bug pattern - blue'","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Lithograph after a computer graphic, entitled '3D Checkerboard Pattern', by Donald K. Robbins. From the Cybernetic Serendipity collector's set, 1968.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1969"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Limited edition","id":"THES48862"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)","id":"C5710"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"mathematical","id":"AAT65075"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers (2018)\n\nDONALD K. ROBBINS (dates unknown)\r\n<i>3D Checkerboard Pattern</i>\r\nPublished by Motif Editions, London, 1968\n\r\nA detail from this image featured on the cover of the <i>Cybernetic Serendipity</i> exhibition catalogue, which can be seen in the case nearby. The drawing is based on a mathematical challenge known as the ‘four-bug problem’, where the bugs form a square and crawl clockwise at a constant rate.\n\r\nMade in the USA, about 1967\r\nLithograph, after a computer-generated plotter drawing\r\nMuseum no. Circ.776-1969","date":{"text":"07/07/2018-18/11/2018","earliest":"2018-07-07","latest":"2018-11-18"}}],"partNumbers":["CIRC.776-1969"],"accessionNumberNum":"776","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1969,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-03","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}