{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1321898"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1321898/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JH7705/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JH7705/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JH7705","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1321898","accessionNumber":"E.2705-2016","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Return to Square","type":"published title"},{"title":"Return to Square (a)","type":"alternative title"}],"summaryDescription":"A set of seven lithographs by different artists was published by Motif Editions in connection with Cybernetic Serendipity, 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.\r\n\r\nThe original plotter drawing for Return to Square (a) was created by members of the Computer Technique Group in late 1967 or early 1968, at the IBM Scientific Data Centre in Tokyo. The book published to coincide with the Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition includes the following information about the artwork: \r\n\r\n\"Return to square (a)\r\nA computer metamorphosis. A square is transformed into a profile of a woman and then back into a square.\r\nIdea by Masao Komura, programme by Kunio Yamanaka (CTG) (p.75)\r\n\r\nThe text goes on to describe a related image:\r\n\r\n\"Return to square (b)\" \r\nOne of two works on this theme. Return to square 9 (a), however, is programmed according to an arithmetic series, and this one is programmed according to geometrical progression\" (p.75)\r\n\r\nEarly references to the group include the English language spelling Komura, but the artist himself prefers the spelling Kohmura. \n\nThis copy of Return to Square may be a cut-down version of the print published by Motif Editions in 1968. It was donated to the V&A by the Computer Arts Society and was probably displayed at several exhibitions organised by them in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The museum also holds a copy of the original Motif Editions print (CIRC.771-1969).","physicalDescription":"Profile portrait consisting of black lines","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Computer Technique Group","id":"A25588"},"association":{"text":"artists","id":"x44080"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Motif Editions","id":"A23422"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"screenprint","id":"x36290"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"printer's ink, paper, screenprint","categories":[{"text":"Computer Art","id":"THES49037"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2016JH7705"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"MB2E","shelf":"DR54","box":"Digital Art"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":"AAT178688"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1967","earliest":"1967-01-01","latest":"1967-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1968","earliest":"1968-01-01","latest":"1968-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Computer Arts Society, supported by System Simulation Ltd, London ","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"50.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"50.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Return to Square, lithograph by Computer Technique Group, 1968","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Arreola, P., Gardner, C. and Lenz, M. Digital Art: 1960s - Now. London: Thames & Hudson with the Victoria and Albert Museum,","id":"AUTH407700"},"details":"p. 170.","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.2705-2016"],"accessionNumberNum":"2705","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2016,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-07","recordCreationDate":"2015-09-18","availableToBook":false}}