Artwork
GRASS: series 1
GRASS: series 1 is a drawing by Colette & Charles Bangert. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It was made in 1979 by Colette and Charles Bangert using a computer and a line plotter—a machine guided by coded instructions.
This drawing is part of a series called GRASS: series 1. It was made in 1979 by Colette and Charles Bangert using a computer and a line plotter—a machine guided by coded instructions.
The Bangerts started using this tool back in 1967. They built programs that created repetitive patterns meant to look like grass or other natural shapes.
Try looking up the Victoria and Albert Museum for more work like this.
Overview
GRASS: series 1 (1979) is a collaborative drawing by Colette and Charles J. Bangert, created using a computer-controlled line plotter. This piece exemplifies their algorithmic drawing technique, blending artistic vision with computational execution.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing focuses on 'grass as form', exploring the repetitive, natural patterns of landscape elements through a medium that inherently lends itself to randomness and repetition, mirroring the organic irregularity of grass.
Technique & Style
The Bangerts utilized a line plotter, guided by custom computer programs, to produce repetitive patterns mimicking natural shapes like grass. This method combined Colette's artistic training with Charles's computational expertise.
History & Provenance
Created in 1979, this work is part of the Bangerts' ongoing exploration of algorithmic art, which began in 1967 when Charles first tested a line plotter at the University of Kansas.
Context
Part of a broader movement in 1960s-70s experimental art, the Bangerts' work intersects with the burgeoning use of technology in creative practices, reflecting the era's fascination with the intersection of art and computer science.
Legacy
The Bangerts' innovative use of computational tools for artistic expression predates much of the digital art movement, influencing subsequent generations of artists exploring technology-driven creative processes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Colette and Charles Bangert made a quiet, linear art of fields and grasses. In 1979 they released a drawing series titled GRASS: series 1, a grid of fine black lines that turn meadows into abstract pattern. The work…
