Photocopier Art
These days digital technology allows people to manipulate images, upload images immediately to the internet and share them with a global audience. Before this technology existed several artists decided to make use of photocopier technology for their art, and the genre soon became known as photocopier art or xerography. The artists used the technology to distort and transform images through enlargement, tone adjustment and other copier techniques. Although the photocopier was invented in the 1930’s this genre did not really take off until the late seventies, with the first exhibition of copier art in New York in 1979. The Society of Copier Artists was set up in 1982 to promote the work of artists involved in this type of art. The focus for these artists then moved to Spain, where in 1985 an International Copy Art Biennale was set up.
Why choose Copier Art
Artists were attracted to photocopier art for many reasons including reproducing images from the media as well as the opportunity to transform and distort images. Photocopiers could also be used by artists to copy images of their bodies or other three dimensional objects. Images made could then be repeatedly distorted, and the colour and texture can be varied. Additionally images can be repeated or superimposed on previous copies. Many artists are attracted to the democratic nature of photocopier art as the wide availability of photocopier machines means it was an art form accessible to people without means or artistic training. The democratic nature of this type of art has many parallels with modern digital design which is accessible to anyone with access to a computer set up with the relevant software. One of the main advocates of the democratic nature of photocopier art was Bruno Munari. Another parallel with design in the digital age is that artists could add to or alter art through their copiers in a similar way that designers can upload images for people to share and adapt these days. Photocopier art lends itself to low cost art as images can repeated many times, which was linked to the concept of throw away art.
Photocopier Artists
Some photocopier artists used photocopiers for some of their art. Others used it for all of their art work. One of the main artistic figures in the movement was Louise Neaderland who set up the Society of Copier Artists. This was closed in the 1990′s due to declining interest in the medium. Other notable copier artists include Laurie Rae Chamberlain, Tim Head and Helen Chadwick. It has even featured in the work of David Hockney. Photocopier manufacturers have used this art to their advantage in marketing as they have been known to sponsor art exhibitions or employ artists in residence.
Design in the Digital age
Machines have changed how we design many times, from the advent of photography through photocopiers to computer design. Designs in the digital age often reflect the multi layered, complex, fragmented images which can trace its beginnings to copier art. Designers and artists have a technological literacy which is changing the nature of art and design. This also changes the nature of design in that there is less need to create a physical object it often just exists in an electronic space.