Herbert W. Franke’s 100th Anniversay
Ahead of the Curve: 100 Years looking into the future
In 2027, the Foundation will celebrate Herbert W. Franke’s 100th birthday together with the Generative Art Community. The major HWF 100 project consists of several events, including two new Summits and a scientific symposium, as well as performances that will take place with partners in Europe, America, and perhaps even Asia. The Foundation has also initiated several art projects with the Generative Art Community for 2027. On this page, we will provide information about these events and projects, which will be updated on an ongoing basis.
HWF 100 — ASTROPOETICON
To mark its anniversary year, the foundation has launched the multimedia project ASTROPOETICON. It is based on a cycle of poems of the same name, which Herbert W. Franke wrote in 1979 for an illustrated book by the space artist Andreas Nottebohm. The 16 poems deal with the physical laws governing the cosmos and its evolutionary processes leading up to the emergence of life. The foundation has invited multimedia artists from three continents to re-interpret the poems in a multimedia format for fulldome and immersive theater. The entire cycle will premiere in 2027 at one of the HWF 100 events and will be shown at different interntional locations throughout the year.
Research Project: HWF goes AI
In March 2026, HWF goes AI was launched—a collaborative project between the Foundation and Goldsmiths, University of London. This research initiative explores how modern AI can breathe new life into the visionary concepts of a pioneer of computer art. As early as 1957, Herbert W. Franke foresaw the transition from his static generative artworks to moving processes — something he was unable to realize with the technical means of that era. At the heart of this research is a profound shift in perception: Franke’s early works are no longer viewed merely as static images, but as visual records of dynamic mathematical processes. The creative mind behind the project is Huichuan Wang, a recent graduate of the “Computational Arts” Master’s program. As a research assistant working alongside Prof William Latham and Dr Rachel Falconer, she contributes to the School of Computing’s research agenda in the field of AI and art. An interview with Huichuan Wang giving more details about the project is published here. The final 30 minutes immersive work of Franke’s early generative art from Lichtformen to the Tanz der Elektronen will be showcased during the 2027 Herbert W. Franke centennial celebrations at different locations. More information to come.