p-18 (random walk), 1970, manfred mohr
This plotter drawing was created using a computer program written by the artist. A plotter is a mechanical arm that holds a pen or brush and is linked to a computer that controls its movements. Plotters were one of the few available output devices for computers in the late 1960s. Mohr began using computers in his art in 1968, and this is one of his earliest plotter drawings. The ‘P-18’ of the title refers to the particular computer program used to generate this drawing. From one program Mohr could produce a series of drawings. The V&A holds two other drawing that were also created from this same program (see V&A museum numbers E.96-2008 and E.115-2008).