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Fig. 3.3
Frieder Nake: Random Polygon , 1965
use of the machine. Turning to mathematics for the sake of art: creative, as well as
nothing particularly exciting. Throughout the centuries, many have done this. But
now the challenge had become to make a machine draw, whose sole purpose was
calculation. How to draw when your instrument is not made for drawing?
3.2.1 Georg Nees
Although “polygons” were Nees', Noll's, and Nake's common first interest, their
particular designs varied considerably. In six lines of ordinary German text, Nees
describes what the machine is supposed to do (Nees and Bense 1965 ). An English
translation of his pseudo-code reads like this:
Start anywhere inside the figure's given square format, and draw a polygon of 23 straight
line segments. Alternate between horizontal and vertical lines of random lengths. Hori-
zontally go either left or right (choose at random), vertically go up or down (also random
choice). To finish, connect start and end points by an oblique straight line.
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