{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O239532"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O239532/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX5459/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX5459/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BX5459","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O239532","accessionNumber":"E.957-2008","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Composite Oscillons","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Ben Laposky produced his Oscillons on an analogue cathode-ray oscilloscope. He then manipulated the electronic wave forms (Lissajous-figures) displayed on the screen and then photographed the results. He thus created some of the first graphics generated using an electronic machine and helped pave the way for the truly digital pioneers who followed.\r\n\r\nLaposky removed these mathematical curves from their scientific and technical background and put them into an aesthetic context. The first Oscillons were shown in the Sanford-Museum in Cherokee in 1953 and were called 'Electronic Abstractions'. This exhibition toured to over 200 institutions in the US. In the same year, Laposky published a book of the same name, which was intended to accompany the travelling exhibition and featured many of the images and explanatory material from the show. Laposky also gave a number of demonstrations on creating his images.\r\n\r\nThe relationship of the oscillons to computer art is that the basic waveforms are analogue curves, of the type used in analogue computer systems. The oscillons have been recognized as being the first major development in this field as abstract art creations.\r\n\r\nBen Laposky was born in Cherokee, Iowa, in 1914. He trained as a mathematician but began his career as a draftsman, owning a sign shop in Iowa. His interest in mathematics led him to begin experimenting with geometric design, including algebraic curves and magic number pattern arrangements, and, in turn, the visual effects of an oscilloscope.\r\nIn photographing the different 'Oscillons' Laposky is said to have produced 10,000 negatives, although much fewer of these survive today. His photographs have featured in over 150 publications since 1952. \r\n\r\nThis composite image shows thumbnail images of 28 works by Laposky, all of which are known to be held by the Sanford Museum in Iowa.  The V&A's image appears to have been re-photographed from an unknown publication or exhibition, and was given by Laposky to the American art historian Patric Prince.","physicalDescription":"This is a colour photograph of 28 equally sized Oscillons, arranged in four rows of  7 Oscillons in each row. At the bottom of the photograph, below the 4th row of Oscillons are the typed words: \"ELECTRONIC ABSTRACTIONS    Oscillons by Ben F. Laposky         Color exhibit (c) 1960\".","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Laposky, Ben","id":"A24526"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"C-type colour photograph of Lissajous-figures displayed on an Oscilloscope on photographic paper (KODAK)","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Computer Art","id":"THES49037"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2009BX5459"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"PATRIC PRINCE WIP","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United States","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1960","earliest":"1960-01-01","latest":"1960-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patric Prince","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"25.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'ELECTRONIC ABSTRACTION  Oscillons by Ben F. Laposky  Color exhibit (c) 1960'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscription within the  photograph, at bottom."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"Ben Laposky produced his Oscillons on an analogue cathode-ray oscilloscope. He then manipulated the electronic wave forms (Lissajous-figures) displayed on the screen and then photographed the results. He thus created some of the first graphics generated using an electronic machine and helped pave the way for the truly digital pioneers who followed.\r\n\r\nLaposky removed these mathematical curves from their scientific and technical background and put them into an aesthetic context. The first Oscillons were shown in the Sanford-Museum in Cherokee in 1953 and were called 'Electronic Abstractions'.\r\n\r\nThe relationship of the oscillons to computer art is that the basic waveforms are analogue curves, of the type used in analogue computer systems. The oscillons have been recognized as being the first major development in this field as abstract art creations.","briefDescription":"C-type colour photograph, 'Composite Oscillons', by Ben Laposky, United States, 1960.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Herzogenrath, Wulf and Nierhoff-Wielk, Barbara (eds.). <u>Ex Machina - Early Computer Graphics up to 1979. The Franke collection and other foundations at the Kunsthalle Bremen. For the 80th birthday of Herbert W. Franke.</u>. Exhibition catalogue, Kunsthalle Bremen, Deutscher Kusntverlag, Muenchen 2007, p. 25."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beddard, Honor and Dodds, Douglas, 'Digital Pioneers'. In: <u>V&A Pattern - Digital Pioneers</u>. V&A Publishing, London, 2009."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Oscillons","id":"x44803"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Patric Prince: Digital Art Visionary\r\n\r\nBen Laposky (1914–2000)\r\nOscillions\r\n1960\r\nC-type photograph of oscilloscope screens\r\n\r\nThis artwork brings together some of the first abstract graphics made using an electronic machine. Mathematician and artist Ben Laposky made them by photographing electronic waves on a screen created using an analogue cathode-ray oscilloscope. This work is a photograph of 28 ‘Oscillions’, which he gave to Prince.\r\n\r\nGiven by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity\r\nof Patric D. Prince\r\nMuseum no. E.957-2008","date":{"text":"14/08/2023-15/09/2024","earliest":"2023-08-14","latest":"2024-09-15"}}],"partNumbers":["E.957-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"957","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-07","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-08","availableToBook":false}}