Basic Info

Name: Norbert Lübbecke
Country of Origin: DE

Description

Norbert Lübbecke emerged in the late 1970s as part of a global movement of artists exploring the aesthetic potential of the computer. Unlike many modern digital artists who use “off-the-shelf” software, Lübbecke belonged to a generation that often wrote custom code—frequently in FORTRAN or BASIC—to command plotters and early printers.

• Early Academic Influence: Much of his work was catalyzed by the academic and editorial network led by Grace C. Hertlein (California State University, Chico). Hertlein was a central figure who collected works from her peers and students, often featuring them in her influential journals, Computers and People and Computer Graphics and Art.

• Philosophy of Precision: Lübbecke’s work is characterized by a “Constructivist” digital approach. He sought to find “art quality” within the rigid logic of the machine, often experimenting with how small algorithmic variations could create complex, organic-feeling visual textures.

Technical Artistry:
Lübbecke’s primary contribution to the Spalter Collection consists of serigraphs (silk-screen prints) derived from digital outputs. This process was a vital “translation” layer for early digital art:

1. Algorithmic Generation: The artist would define a set of mathematical parameters to generate a design.
2. Plotter Output: This design was typically drawn by a pen-plotter onto vellum or Mylar.
3. Traditional Finishing: Lübbecke would then use these digital “blueprints” to create high-quality serigraphs, giving the ephemeral digital lines a permanent, tactile presence in the fine art world.