First Scottish solo exhibition by pioneering computer artist

Published On Fri 24 Oct 2014 by Grant Hill

The first solo exhibition in Scotland by William Latham, a pioneering figure of computer art in the UK since the 1980s, will open at Centrespace, Visual Research Centre, next week.

‘William Latham: Mutator 2’ features interactive video works, drawings and prints that explore and embody evolutionary processes, physical and virtual space. The Visual Research Centre, part of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD), located on the lower floors of Dundee Contemporary Arts, will play host to the exhibition from Friday 31st October until the end of January.

Central to the exhibition is a three-screen interactive video projection called Mutator 2 Triptych (2013), which uses software modelled on the processes of evolution to blend organic imagery and computer animation. Through computer touch screens, visitors are able to shape and mutate vibrant animated forms in real time.

Curator Sophia Hao said, “Starting with a simple horn-like shape, Mutator 2 Triptych introduces random 'mutations' in order to generate increasingly complex three-dimensional creations that resemble fantastical, futuristic organisms, transforming the gallery into a fascinating world of hybrid forms, a process Latham describes as ‘evolution driven by aesthetics’.

“Mutator 2 simultaneously highlights a series of early drawings and prints by Latham. These intricate drawings show an imagined evolution of complex forms developed following a simple set of transformation rules such as ‘beak, bulge, stretch and twist’.

“Although contrasting visually and experientially to the colourful computer graphics of Mutator 2 Triptych, these early works share Latham’s on-going concern with systems and process to underline the motives of aesthetics and scientific development inherent in his practice.”

Originally trained as an artist, Latham moved into the computing industry and became a Research Fellow at The IBM UK Scientific Centre in Winchester in 1987. Between 1994 and 2003, he founded and led the leading games developer Computer Artworks Ltd before being appointed Professor of Creative Technology at Leeds Metropolitan University then Professor of Computer Art at Goldsmiths (University of London).

Latham was co-author of the book ‘Evolutionary Art and Computers’ (1992), which is still recognised as a key work in this area, and his career also encompasses major national and international exhibitions.

The exhibition is the first major solo exhibition of Latham’s work in Scotland takes place as part of the Dundee Science Festival 2014. An Artist’s Talk by William Latham on 13th November from 5.30-6.30pm, encourages further insight into the inter-relation between the fields of art, science and computer science technology as well as providing a closer examination of Latham’s practice.

‘William Latham: Mutator 2’ opens at Centrespace with a preview evening from 5.30-7.30pm on Friday, 31st October. The exhibition runs until 31st January, but will be closed during winter holidays from 20th December – 7th January.

For further information please see http://www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/exhibitions/exhibitions/william-latham, contact Katie Reid at k.reid@dundee.ac.uk or call Exhibitions on 01382 385330.

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