THE ALGORISTS

Note: This page presents a brief orientation to the origin of the term "algorist" in 20th Century art. The term was introduced in 1995 to identify those artists who employ original algorithms in the process of creating their art. This artistic practice has a very deep history but there had been no common label for the artists who employ the process. Algorithmic art, implemented with the aid of computers, reaches back to the 1960's but algorithmic art precedes the advent of computers. We introduced the term specifically to help identify a unique and important practice that experienced an impetus with the advent of computing power. The history of algorist practice is rooted in the history of algorithmic art that dates back to prehistoric times in weaving and tool making. For a briefing on algorithm in art and history see algorithmic art. Last update: 9/29/2006 (rv)

Who are the algorists? Simply put, algorists are artists who create art using algorithmic procedures that include their own algorithms. The term was introduced in 1995 to identify artists who employed original algorithms in the process of creating their art. Such procedures apply to a very broad spectrum of art practice coursing through the history of art.

The rise of algorithmic art in the last half of the 20th Century began in the earlier days of computing when there was no software for artists. Artists engaging the new technologies had to either collaborate with technicians or create their own procedures. For example, Manfred Mohr, an experienced algorist in the 1960's, created his own software.

Venues for algorithmic art emerged in the last quarter of the 20th century began in the earlier days of computing when engineers and artists often collaborated in developing procedures for visualization achieved with algorithms implemented with computing power. Software and technical procedures for visualization grew hand in hand with hardware. Artists engaging new computing and visualizing technologies had to either collaborate with technicians or create their own procedures (algorithms). First generation algorists of the 1970's included Harold Cohen, Herbert Franke, Manfred Mohr, Frieder Nake, and George Nees.

Venues for exhibiting algorithmic art emerged in the late 1970's and 1980's when various symposia and conferences, both national and international, began including exhibitions and papers related to the use of computing procedures in the arts. (See note 1). Leonardo, the quarterly on art science and technology, played an important role for emerging algorithmic art by including essays and documentation of exhibitions for ISEA, the Digital Salon, and SIGGRAPH.

By the 1980's a number of artists using original algorithms had achieved distinctive styles, each with a body of mature work. Working independently of each other, several found that they had shared many similar experiences over the years. Following the 1995 panel on "Artists and Algorithms" in Los Angeles, Ken Musgrave, Jean Pierre Hebert and I briefly discussed forming an informal group of artists who shared similar interests. Having engaged in algorithmic procedures for many years we experienced a need to create an identity for those who shared this practice. (Note 2)

For several months we corresponded in search of a term with possible ways to share views. Eventually we settled on the term "algorist" as proposed by JPH. This term most probably descended from the name of an Arabian mathematician who was active around 820 AD in Baghdad. It is believed that his surname, al-Khowarazmi is the source for the term algorism.

The use of the term algorism appeared with various spellings in several languages and often with latinizing influence as in algorismus. In English the term algorism came to be replaced with the term algorithm which is more commonly used today. So one who employs algorithms (algorisms) would be an algorist.

As artists employing algorithmic procedures the term algorist fit our interests well. In general we are fairly agreed that algorists are artists who include original algorithmic procedures in the course of creating their work. The use of algorithms in and of itself does not constitute algorist work. It is the inclusion of one's own algorithms that makes the difference. (See Note 3)

As algorists with or without computers, we all employ algorithms created by colleagues and predecessors. Basic tools like geometry and perspective come to mind. We depend on algorithms others have created for everything from the circuit logic and operating system of our computers to the languages and the editors that we use.