Artwork
BIGDIM
BIGDIM is a drawing by Paul Brown. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Brown wrote the code that ran a pen plotter—a machine that drew the lines.
This is a computer-made drawing by Paul Brown from 1979. It’s abstract, using lines to create patterns controlled by code. The title’s numbers were picked by the program itself.
Brown wrote the code that ran a pen plotter—a machine that drew the lines. One program could make many drawings, not just this one.
This early experiment shows how art and computers first teamed up. Want to see more? Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Untitled is a 1979 drawing created by Paul Brown using a computer-controlled pen plotter. The work is part of the BIG DIM (BIG DIMENSION) series, characterized by abstract line patterns generated through coded instructions.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of Untitled is the visual manifestation of algorithmic processes. The artwork explores the intersection of technology and art, where the artist's role shifts from direct creator to programmer of creative parameters.
Technique & Style
Brown wrote a custom computer program to control a pen plotter, enabling the production of multiple variations from a single codebase. The resulting drawing features intricate, geometric patterns defined by the interplay of programmed rules and random numerical selections.
History & Provenance
Created in 1979, Untitled reflects Brown's pioneering work in computer-generated art, influenced by his studies at the Slade School of Fine Art's Experimental Department. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) holds this piece and three other drawings from the same BIG DIM series (E.131-2008, E.132-2008, E.224-2008).
Context
Untitled embodies the early experimentation with computer art in the 1970s, a period when few institutions, like the Slade, integrated computer use into their art curriculum. Brown's work from this time signifies a foundational moment in the development of algorithmic and generative art practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Eugene Brown was an American football coach and executive in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), the National Football League (NFL), and the American Football League (AFL).
