New Media Art Pioneers

New Media Art Pioneers

New Media Art PioneersThe first device made to visually entertain people is most likelythe zoopraxiscope, this early device for displaying motion pictures was created by photographic pioneer Eadweard Muybridgein 1879, it may be considered the first movie projector. The zoopraxiscope projected images from rotating glass disks in rapid succession to give the impression of motion. The stop-motion images were initially painted onto the glass, as silhouettes. A second series of discs, made in 1892-94, used outline drawings printed onto the discs photographically, then colored by hand. Some of the animated images are very complex, featuring multiple combinations of sequences of animal and human movement. Things moved fast after this invention. Artists around the world were eager to work the new visual medium called Video. No artist has had a greater influence in imagining and realizing the artistic potential of video and television than Korean-born Nam June Paik. Through a vast array of installations, videotapes, global television productions, films, and performances, Paik has reshaped our perceptions of the temporal image in contemporary art. Not to mention he is considered to be the pioneer in the video-art field.Check out a video of one of his works below. These days new media art is a part of our daily lives. Yet not to long ago there were many exhibitions in art gallery´s featuring new media concepts. Even long after the days that there was only one television per street, many gallery´s kept exploring the new media border´s by placing televisions in installations. take a look at these example´s from the 60´s till 70´s:

—movies—

Jud Yalkut – Charlotte.

In this work, gallery visitors were invited to walk into a private room and follow pre-recorded audio tape instructions. Participants could then watch a videotape of themselves performing these actions before the information was erased with the next recording. The following excerpt is from Jud Yalkut´s Television as a Creative Medium, 1969-72, 16mm, color, silent, 6 min.

Yalkut

[qt:/ http://www.eai.org/kinetic/Video/Yalkut-Charlotte_ref.mov 480 256]


TV Bra for Living Sculpture, Nam June Paik and CharlotteMoorman.

TV Bra for Living Sculpture was both an apparatus to be worn and a live performance. In this collaboration, Moorman manipulates the images displayed on the two miniature television screens of the bra Paik designed, with the sound of her playing the cello. The following excerpt is from Jud Yalkut´s Television as a Creative Medium, 1969-72, 16mm, color, silent, 6 min.

wipe Cycle:

[qt:/ http://www.eai.org/kinetic/Video/Schneider-WipeCycle_ref.mov 480 256]


These movies are very primitive compared to what modern technoligy has to offer. But there are still lots of people who prefers this setup. Just like analogue music instruments have there “fans”. Digital processing has made a real difference for the new media art´s. One of the digital art pioneers is Manfred Mohr (* June 8, 1938 in Pforzheim/Germany). His early computer works are algorithmic and based on his former drawings with a strong attitude on rhythm and repetition. In 1990 he was awarded the Prix Ars Electronica (Golden Nica) at Ars Electronica festival in Linz, Austria. He started his career as action painter and jazz musician. He maintained an art studio in Paris from 1963 to 1983. Since 1981 he lives and works in New York. You can see his work on an online exhibition right here