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  Composite Oscillons top image
  [default.jpg]
  Not currently on display at the V&A

Composite Oscillons

  Photograph
  1960 (made)
  Artist/Maker
  Laposky, Ben (artist)
  Place of origin
  United States (made)
  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.
  Laposky 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.
  The 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.
  Ben 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.
  In 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.
  This 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.
  Object details
  Categories
  Photographs
  Computer Art
  Object type
  Photograph
  Materials and techniques
  C-type colour photograph of Lissajous-figures displayed on an
  Oscilloscope on photographic paper (KODAK)
  Photographic Paper
  Photography
  Brief description
  C-type colour photograph, 'Composite Oscillons', by Ben Laposky, United
  States, 1960.
  Physical description
  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".
  Dimensions
    * Length: 25.5cm
    * Width: 20.5cm

  Marks and inscriptions
  'ELECTRONIC ABSTRACTION Oscillons by Ben F. Laposky Color exhibit (c)
  1960' (Inscription within the photograph, at bottom.)
  Credit line
  Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of
  Patric Prince
  Historical context
  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.
  Laposky 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'.
  The 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.
  Subject depicted
  Oscillons
  Summary
  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.
  Laposky 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.
  The 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.
  Ben 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.
  In 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.
  This 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.
  Bibliographic references
    * Herzogenrath, Wulf and Nierhoff-Wielk, Barbara (eds.). 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.. Exhibition catalogue, Kunsthalle Bremen,
      Deutscher Kusntverlag, Muenchen 2007, p. 25.
    * Beddard, Honor and Dodds, Douglas, 'Digital Pioneers'. In: V&A
      Pattern - Digital Pioneers. V&A Publishing, London, 2009.

  Collection
  Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
  Accession number
  E.957-2008

About this object record

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  Record created June 8, 2009
  Record URL
  https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O239532/composite-oscillons-photogra
  ph-laposky-ben/
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