EARLY COMPUTER GRAPHICS
1971 - 1975
Each of these artworks originated as an algorithm, which uses mathematics to describe the image being drawn. Trigonometry is used to define circles and ellipses, lines and curves are broken down into a combination of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal segments. As the algorithm executes, it calculates positions and angles and drives a plotter to produce a real drawing in ink.
Some of the artworks below can be found in various galleries around the world, including the V&A Museum in London, UK.
To view which limited prints are available for sale, please visit our online store. For inquiries about the availability of purchasing an original artwork please contact us via our contact form.
Elips, 1971
OVEYE, 1972
NSTAR I, 1972
NSTAR II, 1972
INSIN, 1972
SINCO, 1972
Horse, 1972
Rotation, 1973
Circles 1, 1973
Circles 2, 1973
City Lines, 1973
Modulated Squares, 1973
Torus, 1972
Spiral, 1972
LINED, 1972
Elips-Spiral, 1972
Faces or Vase, 1972
Face to Face, 1972
Untitled 2, 1974
Untitled, 1974
Phased Ellipses, 1972
Perspective-3, 1975
Perspective-5, 1975
Snail, 1972
Lines Inside Ellipse, 1972
Cube, 1972
Perspective 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 1976
Converting Text to Symbols
Alphabet A-Z, 1974
Black Ink
160 x 120 mm
1974
Text Converted to symbols representing the Alphabet.
A Poem Converted to Symbols, 1974
Black Ink
230 x 180 mm
1974
Text from “Bird on the Wire” by Leonard Cohen, converted to symbols.
Multilayered Animation Frames
The ‘TRNG’ set of drawings below are an example of a rather complex multilayered animation. Each of the layers shown below are animated separately by an algorithm while being affected by the animation of the layer on which it is placed. The resulting effect is equivalent to the motion of an animated blooming flower, which comes out from a twisting vine, which comes out from a growing branch of a tree.
TRNG - Multilayered Animation, 1974
TRNG - Multilayered Animation, 1974
How it’s done
The CALCOMP 565 plotter physically holds a pen with ink in it. It has two stepper motors, one for each axis (horizontal and vertical) and is also able to raise and lower the pen using an electromagnet. A computer drives the plotter by sending it electrical signals in real time, which control these motions.
A particularly complex artwork can take hours to complete.
The computer room at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (ETF) in Zagreb in the early 1970’s.
The computer system consisted of a CPU (IBM 1130, 8KB RAM, 1MB HDD, 277 KHz), plotter (IBM 1627), card reader, and line printer, and was enclosed in an air-conditioned glass room. Only faculty staff and technicians were allowed inside.
As a student, Tomislav spent countless nights here, watching the plotting process. Eventually, he was permitted inside to operate the plotter, and no longer had to wait until the following morning to see the results.