Kerry Strand (20th Century) - The Snail 1968

The original digital art from the 1960’s

‘The Snail' lithograph by Kerry Strand, published in London by Motif Editions. The portrait composition shows a computer-generated drawing of a recurring elliptical shape, in black, resembling an upright nautilus shell. The original computer graphic was produced using a Calcomp 770 tape system in association with a Model 207 Flat bed plotter. Plotting time 4 1/2 hours.

From a set of seven lithographs by different artists published to accompany the exhibition Cybernetic Serendipity at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in London in 1968. The exhibition was intended to highlight some of the most interesting and iconic paper-based works in the show. The portfolio of lithographs includes works by the Computer Technique Group, Charles Csuri and James Shaffer, William Fetter, Maughan S. Mason, Donald K. Robbins and Kerry Strand. The artists used various systems and technologies to produce them, often relying on large-scale military equipment.

A copy is held by the V&A.

Reference Number: 039KS