Herbert W. Franke, born 1927 in Austria, studied physics, mathematics and philosophy from 1945 till 1951 at the University of Vienna. Franke then moved to Germany and, after five years in the industry, set up his own business. In 1956 Franke became interested in electronic graphics and experimental photography and since 1969 in computer art. He participated on more then 200 exhibitions. Franke was lecturer for cybernetic aesthetics and computer art on the University in Munich (1973 – 1998) and on the Academy for Fine Arts in Munich (1984 – 1998). Franke published more then 40 books, especially about art-science-connections and also science fiction novels.

Born on 14th May 1927 in Vienna, Austria

EDUCATION
1945-1950 University of Vienna: studies in physics, mathematics, chemistry, psychology and philosophy
1950 Doctor in theoretic physics, University of Vienna, Austria
1952-57 Work for Siemens in Erlangen, Germany
1957 start as free writer. Since then countless publications about science and science-fiction-novels
1969 works with Prof. Dr. Dr. E.H. Grau at the University Marburg/Lahn
1970 first computer graphics with digital machines in collaboration with the Siemens future lab in Munich, Germany
1972-79 editor and publisher at Wilhelm Heyne Verlag Munich, together with Wolfgang Jeschke
1979 Co-founder of the “Ars Electronica” in Linz/Donau, Austria
1980 Title “Professor” from the Austrian Ministry of Education and Art
1993 Co-founder of “Medialab München e.V.”
2008 Senior Fellow at the Konrad-Zuse-Center for information technology in Berlin

TEACHING
1973-97 Lecturer at the Ludwig Maximilians-Universität Munich for “cybernetic aesthetics” – later “computer graphics – computer art”
1979/80 Lecturer at the Hochschule für Gestaltung Bielefeld
1984-98 Lecturer for “computer graphics – computer art” at the Academy of Arts, Munich

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012
Herbert W. Franke – Pionier der Computerkunst, E-Werk in Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany
2010
Herbert W. Franke, Wanderer zwischen den Welten, ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany

GROPUP EXHIBITIONS
2007
Ex Machina – frühe Computergrafik bis 1979: die Sammlungen Franke und andere Stiftungen, Kunsthalle Bremen, Germany
2002
MICAD CYBERSCULPTURE, Parc des Expositions, Paris, France
2001
Wege zur Computerkunst Kronprinzenpalais, Berlin, and Gasteig/Munich, Germany
40 Jahre Computerkunst Nationalgalerie, Wroclaw, Czech Republic
La Renaissance Numérique et le Nouvel Atelier de l`Artiste, Paris, France
Computergrafik als Prozess – die ersten 40 Jahre lothringer13, Munich, Germany
2000
Science Art – Synergie der Form Villa Streccius, Landau/Pfalz, Germany
1959
Experimentelle Ästhetik – Elektronische Grafik, Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, Austria

PROJECTS
2001
Perlenkette, animation with the program „Mathematica“ and with an extra developed machine for viewing (without glasses), exhibition at Kunstquartier lothringer13, Munich, Germany
2001
Para-Kristalle, design of three sculptures for the computer-operated realization for the event INTERSCULPT 2001 in Paris, France
1997
Computerkaleidoskop (with Jörg Stelkens and Florian Trüstedt), installation on basis of an endless program, Einstein-Kunstgelände, Munich, Germany
1996
Polyeder, video production with the program „Mathematica“ at the TU Berlin, Research Differential Geometry and Quantum Physics
Flying Snail (with Manu Luksch), computer animation with the program „Mathematica“ for the information system InfoScreen
LoopRoom (with Jörg Stelkens), image and sound installations with a fairlight-video-computer, Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Munich, Germany
Blockade, demonstration of a program for images and music, Day of Experimental Music, Freies Musikzentrum Munich, Germany
1991
Prinzip K (with mit Horst Helbig and Gottfried Jäger), computer graphics with projections and music, ZIB, University Bielefeld, Germany
1989
Hommage à E.M. (with Christoph Grüner, Claudia Knoll, Klaus Netzle, Susanne Päch) Ballet with realtime image processing, artware, Hannover, Germany
1984
Computer/Synthesizer, workshop, Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria
Metamorphosen (with Christoph Grüner and Horst Helbig), video production on basis of computer graphics with the system DIBIAS
Computer – Instrument of Creativity, synthesizer improvisations of Gershon Kingsley, on basis of an interactive programm of H.W. Franke, Hannover, Germany
Digital Impressions II, projections with music, Klangaktionen ´84, Bayerische Staatsoper, Bayerischer Rundfunk u.a., Munich, Germany
1983
Computergrafik – Life, exhibition and demonstration, Galerie Arnat, Munich, Germany
Computergrafik als Bühnenbild, lecture and demonstration, Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria
Chip Universe, program with life-music improvisations of Bruno Spörri, BMW, Munich, Germany
Dynamische Computergrafik, lecture and demonstration, Viso Data, Munich, Germany
1982
Computer Art (with Josef Anton Riedl and musicians), image and sound improvisations, workshop of the Kulturamts Bonn, Germany
1978
Astropoeticon (with Christoph Grüner, Walter Haupt, Manfred, Thilo Kage, Susanne Päch), video production on basis on a image serie of Andreas Notteboom
Computeranimation and Music (with musicians), improvisations and projections, Breitenbrunn, Austria
1974
Rotationen – Projektionen, computer film for ballet of the „Bayerischen Staatsoper“ after Walter Haupt, Munich, Germany
1972
Musik Film Dia Licht Festival, art program of the 20st Olypmic Games, with Josef Anton Riedl, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich, Germany

AWARDS
2018 Honorary doctorate from the Staatliche Hochschule dür Gestaltung Karlsruhe
2017 Kurd-Laßwitz Special Prize for many years of outstanding achievement in the field of German-language SF
2016 “European Grand Master” of the European Science Fiction Society
2008 Senior Fellow at the “Konrad Zuse Centre for Information Technology Berlin” (ZIB)
2007 Honor-Award for Science and Art, Austria
2002 Dr.-Benno-Wolf-Award, Verband der deutschen Höhlen- und Karstforscher, for his works in cave research
1999 „Goldener Lorbeer“, Gesellschaft bildender Künstler Österreichs, Künstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria
1992 Karl-Theodor-Vogel-Award, for technology publications
1989 Phantastic-Award, Wetzlar, Germany
1987 Computer Art Award, Vereinigung Deutscher Softwarehersteller e.V.

PUBLICATIONS
Vorstoß in die Unterwelt. Bruckmann, Munich 2003
Animation mit Mathematica. Springer, 2002
Ästhetische Information. With H. G. Frank. I. f. Kybernetik-Verlag, Berlin/Paderborn 1997
Das P-Prinzip. Naturgesetze im Rechnenden Raum. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt/Main 1995
Wege zur Computerkunst. Edition ‘die Donau hinunter’, Wien/St. Peter am Wimberg 1995
Digitale Visionen. IBM Deutschland GmbH. 1989
Die Welt der Mathematik. Mit H. Helbig. Computergrafik zwischen Wissenschaft und Kunst. VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1988
Computergraphik – Computerkunst, 2. erweiterte Auflage. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg/Berlin/New York 1985
Computergrafik-Galerie. Bilder nach Programm – Kunst im elektronischen Zeitalter. DuMont, 1984
Kybernetische Ästhetik – Phänomen Kunst, 3. erweiterte Auflage. Ernst Reinhardt Verlag, Munich 1979
Kunst kontra Technik. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt 1978
In den Höhlen dieser Erde. Hoffmann & Campe, Hamburg 1978
“Phänomen Kunst. Die kybernetischen Grundlagen der Ästhetik”, 2. Edition, DuMont, 1974
Apparative Kunst. Vom Kaleidoskop zum Computer. With G. Jäger. DuMont, Schauberg/Köln/München 1973
Computergraphik – Computerkunst. Bruckmann, Munich 1971
Phänomen Kunst. Heinz Moos Verlag, Munich 1967
Die Sprache der Vergangenheit. Union Verlag, Stuttgart 1962
…nichts bleibt uns als das Staunen. Wilhelm Goldmann, Munich 1959
Kunst und Konstruktion. Bruckmann, 1957
Wildnis unter der Erde. Brockhaus, Wiesbaden 1956

NO MESSAGE WHATSOEVER: FRIEDER NAKE & FRIENDS, DAM GALLERY Berlin, 16 November 2013 – 25 January 2014