{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O242792"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O242792/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT5072/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT5072/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT5072","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O242792","accessionNumber":"E.236:14-2008","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Untitled, from the portfolio 'Art Ex Machina'","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Red tree","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Hiroshi Kawano (b.1925, China) graduated from the department of Philosophy at the University of Tokyo in 1951, specialising in Aesthetics. He went on to receive a postgraduate qualification from the same institution in the Philosophy of Science in 1955 and a PhD from Osaka University in 1986.  Like many early computer art pioneers, Kawano was highly influenced by the German philosopher Max Bense, who attempted to create a scientific model for understanding successful aesthetics.  Kawano explored these theories using the computer.\r\n\r\nIt is thought that Kawano began writing his own computer programs in the early 1960s. Many of the results of his early computations were then transferred into more traditional media, such as screenprints like this, at which point Kawano could apply colour.\r\n\r\nKawano is said to have published some of the first computer-generated works of art in a journal in Japan in 1964.  He went on to exhibit in the Tendencies 4 and 5 movement in Zagreb, Croatia.  The archive of his works is now held by the Centre for Art and Media (ZKM) in Karlsruhe, Germany.\r\n\r\nThis version of the work is from the <i>Art Ex Machina</i> portfolio of six untitled prints by various artists, published in 1972. The artist has also called it <i>Red Tree</i>, a reference to the bold shapes in the centre of the image.","physicalDescription":"Screenprint from a computer-generated image, mounted on board and laminated.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Kawano, Hiroshi","id":"A32596"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Gheerbrant, Gilles","id":"A32601"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"mounting board","id":"AAT183686"}],"techniques":[{"text":"screen printing","id":"AAT53281"},{"text":"computer-generated","id":"x44521"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Screenprint from a computer-generated image","categories":[{"text":"Computer Art","id":"THES49037"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2008BT5072"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"MB3H","shelf":"24","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"},{"place":{"text":"Montreal","id":"x31991"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":"Produced in Montral as part of a box set of serigraphs."}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1972","earliest":"1972-01-01","latest":"1972-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Computer Arts Society, supported by System Simulation Ltd, London","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":"'193 / 200'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Edition number in blue ink in lower left side."},{"content":"'Hiroshi Kawano'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Artist's signature in blue ink in lower right side."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Screenprint, by Hiroshi Kawano, 1972, from the portfolio 'Art Ex Machina', six computer-generated screenprints by Barbadillo, Kawano, Knowlton, Mohr, Nake, Nees, with a statement by each artist and a text by Abraham A. Moles, edition 193/200, published by Gilles Gheerbrant, Montréal, 1972.","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. 172.","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers (2018)\n\nHIROSHI KAWANO (1925–2012)\r\n<i>Untitled (Red Tree)</i>\r\nPublished by Gilles Gheerbrant (born 1946),\r\nCanada, 1972\n\r\nHiroshi Kawano was one of the earliest pioneers of computer-generated art in Japan. Like Georg Nees, he was influenced by Max Bense’s theory that computers had the power to dispel the mystery of art. Kawano believed that the artistic process could be taught to a computer and programmed, creating an autonomous machine that could make its own artistic judgements.\n\r\nFrom the portfolio Art Ex Machina\r\nScreenprint, after a computer-generated image made in Japan\r\nGiven by the Computer Arts Society, supported by System Simulation Ltd., London\r\nMuseum no. E.236:14-2008","date":{"text":"07/07/2018-18/11/2018","earliest":"2018-07-07","latest":"2018-11-18"}}],"partNumbers":["E.236:14-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"236","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Previous owner's number","id":"THES57329"},"number":"CAS/A/0009"}],"copyNumber":"193 of 200","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-30","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-08","availableToBook":false}}