Vera Molnar, a Hungarian artist known for her pioneering digital work, passed away in Paris on December 7 at the age of 99. Having lived in Paris since 1947, Molnar’s computer-aided paintings and drawings were initially met with skepticism when she first began integrating computation into her work in the 1960s. Despite this, she continued to push the boundaries of art, eventually exhibiting her works in major museums like the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Before she gained access to an actual computer, she began implementing her concept of “Machine Imaginaire” in 1959, using simple algorithms to guide her hand-made works. She eventually got access to a computer in 1968, despite the skepticism she faced. Molnar had to learn early computer languages and enter her data with punch cards, requiring several days to receive the results.
Molnar’s work featured intricate patterns of lines and shapes on a white background, often intentionally thrown out of alignment or disordered to explore the tensions between perfection and chaos. She continued to innovate throughout her career, exhibiting at the Venice Biennale in 2022 and collaborating on a generative art series using NFT technology.
Despite facing initial criticism, Molnar’s work has experienced a resurgence of recognition in recent years, with her series “Themes and Variations” fetching $1.2 million in sales. She was known for her geometric sensibility and her influence on the world of digital art. With her passing, the art world loses a true pioneer who challenged the boundaries of art and technology.
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