MoMA's 'Thinking Machines' Traces Digital Art's Origins (1959–1989)
On November 13, 2017, the Museum of Modern Art in New York is set to launch an exhibition called 'Thinking Machines: Art and Design in the Computer Age, 1959–1989.' This showcase will mainly draw from the museum’s own collection to explore how computers have shaped the work of artists, designers, and architects, altering the way art is made. Visitors can expect to see kinetic sculptures, plotter drawings, synthetic animations, and video installations. Among the featured artists are John Cage, Lejaren Hiller, and Richard Hamilton, to name a few. The exhibit will also highlight computers from Tamiko Thiel and early tech firms like IBM, Olivetti, and Apple, showcasing the collaboration between art and technology.
Key facts
- Exhibition titled 'Thinking Machines: Art and Design in the Computer Age, 1959–1989'
- Opens November 13, 2017 at MoMA New York
- Focuses on the period 1959–1989
- Draws primarily from MoMA's collection
- Includes works by John Cage, Lejaren Hiller, Waldemar Cordeiro, Charles Csuri, Richard Hamilton, Alison Knowles, Beryl Korot, Vera Molnár, Cedric Price, Stan VanDerBeek
- Features computers designed by Tamiko Thiel and others from Thinking Machines Corporation, IBM, Olivetti, Apple
- Exhibition includes kinetic sculptures, plotter drawings, synthetic animations, video installations
- Highlights artist-corporation partnerships for access to advanced technology
Entities
Artists
- John Cage
- Lejaren Hiller
- Waldemar Cordeiro
- Charles Csuri
- Richard Hamilton
- Alison Knowles
- Beryl Korot
- Vera Molnár
- Cedric Price
- Stan VanDerBeek
- Tamiko Thiel
- Danny Hillis
- Gordon Bruce
- Allen Hawthorne
- Ted Bilodeau
Institutions
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Thinking Machines Corporation
- IBM
- Olivetti
- Apple
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Waltham
- Massachusetts