Oskar Beckmann

Basic Info

Name: Oskar Beckmann
Date of Birth: August 2, 1942
Country of Origin: AT

Description

Son of the computer artist Otto Beckmann, Oskar was an engineer and telecommunications scientist who constructed the hybrid computer that his father used for his artwork. Oskar “was familiar with electronic data processing and Markov generators from his studies (…) and he decided to build a special-purpose computer for his father. He started the development of what became known as the studio computer in 1969.”(Oberquelle and Beckmann, 2008, p. 23)

In 1970, Beckmann created the a.i.70 (the name stands for ars intermedia and the year 1970), which was followed by improved versions. The studio computer’s development was honored in 1972 with the Austrian “Adolf Schärf Award for the Advancement of Science”. Beckmann continued to develop and refine his computer models throughout the 1970s.

Oskar Beckmann was also a founding member of ars intermedia, the experimental working group created by his father in 1966. The goal of the group was to study and experiment with computer technology for artistic uses.

 

Explore Artworks By Oskar Beckmann

Beschwörer (Summoner)

Created in 1971 by Otto Beckmann, Oskar Beckmann

signed, titled, and dated lower right in print signature etched into plate lower right titled lower left in print handwritten notes lower right corner in graphite artist’s copyright stamp in ink on the reverse of the plate signed in sharpie on the reverse of the plate hardware: A.I. 70 Hybrid Computer output machine: Tektronix 564B […]


Altamira

Created in 1971 by Otto Beckmann, Oskar Beckmann

signature etched into plate lower right title etched into plate lower left handwritten notes lower right corner in graphite artist’s copyright stamp in ink on the reverse of the plate hardware: A.I. 70 Hybrid Computer output machine: Tektronix 564B Storage Oscilloscope Produced at Institute of Low-Frequency Engineering at the Technical University, Vienna Through the possibilities […]


“Mime Pure” Elektronische Computergrafik (Electronic Computer Graphics)

Created in 1971 by Otto Beckmann, Oskar Beckmann

signed, titled, and dated hardware: a.i. 70 hybrid computer output machine: oscilloscope Through the possibilities offered by the oscilloscope for variation, the various modes of expression are simultaneously available in one and the same stochastic process. These variation possibilities include the adjustability of the amplitudes assigned to the states of the process, regulation of the […]


Elektronische Computergrafik (Electronic Computer Graphics)

Created in 1971 by Otto Beckmann, Oskar Beckmann

signed, titled, and dated hardware: a.i. 70 hybrid computer output machine: oscilloscope Through the possibilities offered by the oscilloscope for variation, the various modes of expression are simultaneously available in one and the same stochastic process. These variation possibilities include the adjustability of the amplitudes assigned to the states of the process, regulation of the […]