SIEMENSSTERN 14. OPTICAL TRANSFORMATION, 1965 is an artwork created in 1966 by Hein Gravenhorst, a photographer known for his involvement in generative photography. In 1968, Gravenhorst participated in an exhibition at the Bielefelder Kunsthaus alongside Gottfried Jäger, Pierre Cordier, and Kilian Breier, where generative photography was not only the title but also defined the program of the exhibition.
Generative photography aimed to create aesthetic structures based on defined programs using photochemical, photo-optical, or photo-technical operations. The goal was to achieve optional and functional references within the construction of the aesthetic structure. This genre of photography was influenced by Max Bense's generative aesthetic, which provided principles for generating specific operations methodically.
Gravenhorst's works from 1965 to 1972 are highly regarded, and this particular artwork is part of his impressive oeuvre. The artwork features the Siemens Star, a geometric pattern generated through the combined rotation-translation number system of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16. It is hand-signed by the artist and dated on the reverse side with a pencil, adding to its authenticity and provenance.
Hein Gravenhorst's works have been acquired by various international private and public collections, including the Collection Peter C. Ruppert in Würzburg and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
Presented by Photo Edition Berlin as part of REIMAGINE TOMORROW, 1954-2024: AI in Context #2, 17–24 November 2024, at Heilig Geist, on the occasion of the AI Biennale in Essen, Germany.