Early computer art in Slovakia (1970s-80s)

Artists

Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók, Juraj Bartusz with Vladimír Haltenberger, Daniel Fischer with Igor Klačanský, Martin Šperka, Agnes Sigetová.

Forms

• lithographies and serigraphies based on computer-generated drawings (*1966/1973, Jankovič with Bertók)
• manufactured sculptures based on computer-generated curves (*1973, Bartusz with Haltenberger)
• computer morphing line drawings (*1975, Fischer with Klačanský)
• computer animations (*1980s, Sigetová, Slivka)

Exhibitions

• Československá počítačová grafika Institut průmyslového designu, Praha, 1976
• Druhá celostátní výstava počítačového umění v ČSSR, ÚKDŽ, Praha, 1985
• Počítačové umění v ČSSR a ve světě, Palác kultury, Praha, 1989
• Hranice geometrie, Dom umenia, Bratislava, 2010

Works

• decoration for facade of Výpočtové stredisko dopravy in Bratislava, 1971-1974. Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók.
• Aluminium art objects from 1973- 1974. Juraj Bartusz with Vladimír Haltenberger. The objects were made according to computer drawings utilizing boundary curves generated by the HP 9030A computer.
• Ikarus, 1974. Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók.
• Movement in a circle, 1974. Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók. Transformation of figure into abstract image.
• Spacetime sculpture, 1976-78. Juraj Bartusz with Vladimír Haltenberger.
• Cosmic Head, 1976-78. Juraj Bartusz with Vladimír Haltenberger
• Altamira, 1978-. Daniel Fischer with Peter Gerža /? Igor Klačanský. Cave bull morphing into sign of infinity, first computer animation in Slovakia. Single frames plotted by CalComp plotter were photographed step by step by 16mm animation camera, then processed by painter's interventions. Film was shown on Slovak television in Bratislava. Fischer: "Úlohou lineárnej transformácie je postihnúť kultúrne kontexty v čase fázovaním premien východiskových kresieb do cieľových, priamo modelovať časové premeny a vizualizovať čas ako fenomén spätý s ľudským bytím."
• Exterior design for a general hospital in Bratislava IV, colored aluminium and epoxy, 6 x 6 m, 1981-1982. Jozef Jankovič. The artwork was created according to computer drawings using the PDP11 computer and the Calcomp plotter. Each column shows the morphing of an outline of part of the human body into an electrocardiograph signal.
• Solentine Apocalypse, 1982. Daniel Fischer with Igor Klačanský. Computer-generated illustrations for Slovak edition of the book by J Cortazar.
• The Cubist's Pictures Can Be Read Like a Modern Poetry, serigraph, 1983. Daniel Fischer. From the series Images-Poems, this artwork was generated by the CDC3000 computer and the Calcomp plotter. The artist used an earlier version of the image to create an oil painting in 1982.
• Window, 1984. Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók. Dynamics of line in a given frame.
• Interior design at the general hospital in Bratislava III, cast sand and epoxy, 3 x 3 m, 1984-1985. Jozef Jankovič. The casting form was produced from computer drawings using the SM4 computer and Calcomp plotter.
• Squash, 1985. Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók. Dynamics of line in a given frame.
• Neverending Line, 1985. Jozef Jankovič with Imrich Bertók. Applied random number generator.
• ?, 1986. Ondrej Slivka. 7' cartoon with some sections animated by a computer program of Martin Sepp and Martin Šperka. The film received awards at several international animation festivals abroad.
• 01, 1987. Michal Murin, project for Ars Electronica, software art, performance, sound, concept in big computer hall MEOPTA - výpočtové stredisko.

Articles

• Martin Šperka, "The Origins of Computer Graphics in the Czech and Slovak Republics" Leonardo, Vol. 27, No. 1 (1994), pp. 45-50 [1]
• Martin Šperka, "Some notes on the history of electronic and computer art in Slovakia" 1996 [2]

Links

Pioneers of the computer graphics art in the Czech and Slovak Republics, http://web.archive.org/web/20021129093558/http://www.dcs.elf.stuba.sk/~sperka/emart/pioneers/cspion.htm