1938 |
born in Stuttgart, Germany. |
1958 – 1964 |
Student of mathematics at the Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany. Graduation with the degree of a Diplom-Mathematiker (equivalent to an M.Sc.). During this time attending Max Bense’s lectures on philosophy, semiotics, and aesthetics. |
1959 |
First encounter with a computer during an internship at IBM Germany, Computing Center in Böblingen. |
1963 |
First computer drawings at Technical University of Stuttgart. The Computing Center (where Nake was hired as a research assistant) had ordered one of the first Drawing automata, the ZUSE Graphomat Z 64. Nake’s job was to develop the basic graphics software to connect the Graphomat to the Center’s SEL ER56 computer. His combined interests in probability theory, information aesthetics, and software merged in generating computer art. |
1965 |
First exhibition of computer art, November 5 to 26; Computer-Grafik Programme at the Wendelin Niedlich Galerie in Stuttgart, together with Georg Nees. |
1966 |
15 Jan. to 15 Feb., exhibition at Deutsches Rechenzentrum Darmstadt, with computer drawings by Nake, generative texts by Herd Stickel, and computer Music by Ben Deutschman, Lejaren Hiller, Max V. Matthews. This exhibition gained reactions from the national press. One report about it caused Otto Beckmann in Vienna to start his computer-supported work phase.
First prize of the computer art contest of the US magazine Computers and Automation for his drawing Komposition mit Quadraten (Verteilungen von elementaren Zeichen) (composition with squares – distributions of elementary signs). |
1966-1972 |
Contributions to many exhibitions, both solo and group shows. Among these were the influential Cybernetic Serendipity, London 1968, Proposal for an Experimental Exhibition at Venice Biennale 1970, Tendencies4 & 5, Zagreb 1968-72. Several portfolios, with other artists and solo. The exhibition Geplanter Zufall at Galerie im Hause Behr in Stuttgart (22 Feb. to 20 March, 1967) ended abruptly on March 8: Everything burned down, but not the programs. End of work in computer art. |
1967 |
Feb. 4, defense of doctoral thesis (Dr.rer.nat. in mathematics) at the Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany. Title of the dissertation: On the number of solutions of random systems of equations. |
1968-1969 |
Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, Ont., Canada, invited by Leslie Mezei. Research in computer art and graphics. |
1970 – 1972 |
Assistant Professor in computer science at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. |
Aug. 1972 |
Full Professor of computer science at University of Bremen, Germany. Research in computer graphics, digital media, computer art, interactive systems, computational semiotics, human-computer relations, and theory of computing science. |
1988 etc. |
Visiting professor at University of Vienna (1988), University of Oslo (1995), University of Colorado at Boulder (1997, 1998), Northwest Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xian, Shaanxi, China (2000), University of Aarhus, Denmark (2000, 02, 04, 05), International School of New Media at Lübeck (2003, 05, 06, 07), University of Basel (2007), Donau-University Krems (2007, 09), University of Costa Rica (2009). |
1996-2001 |
Chief designer for three hypermedia installations including virtual reconstructions of historic sites, on display in the Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum, Hannover, and the Stadtmuseum, Delmenhorst, Germany. |
1997 |
Award for excellence and innovation in teaching, University of Bremen. |
1999 |
Start of project compArt: a space for computer art (with Susanne Grabowski and Matthias Krauß). |
2004 |
Frieder Nake: Die präzisen Vergnügen, solo show at Kunsthalle Bremen (9 Nov. to 16 Jan., 2005). Retrospective of early works and new interactive installations (developed in cooperation with compArt and a group of students). This show went to ZKM Karlsruhe (18 Feb. to 10 April, 2005). International and national shows have followed since. |
2005-2019 |
Lecturer in Digital Media at the University of the Arts, Bremen. |
2005 |
Several new versions of the program Walk-Through-Raster (with Matthias Krauß). |
since 2007 |
Head of compArt: Centre of Excellence Digital Art, a project on the archaeology of digital art. Subprojects are this data base of (early) digital art, various interfaces to the data base, theory of images and art, and the Aesthetic Laboratory. |