IAAA by Remko Scha

The Institute of Artificial Art Amsterdam (IAAA) established in the 1990s by Remko Scha is a project of a fictional organisation where machines, computers, algorithms, and humans work together toward the complete automation of art production. IAAA is led by the imaginary figure of Huge Harry, a speech robot also created by Remko Scha. The Institute was engaged in various areas such as visual art, design, architecture, music, performance, and art history.

Remko Scha argued in favour of computer-generated chance art in his text ‘Artificial Art’ from 1991. He claimed that human-made art was predictable, conventional, and that its level of creativity was overestimated. Scha looked into the potential for algorithmic, computer-generated art through the Institute of Artificial Art, which he believed would produce much more unexpected results. He published a number of texts on artificial art and the case for automating the creative process, which sparked the formation of the Institute of Artificial Art Amsterdam. 

Remko Scha, Institute of Artificial Art Amsterdam (IAAA), 1990

Remko Scha studied physics at the Technical University of Eindhoven, and was appointed a professor of computer linguistics at the University of Amsterdam. Along with his scientific work, he developed a number of artistic projects with an interest in automating creative processes. In Eindhoven, he established Het Apollohuis in 1980 as a venue for experimental music, visual art, and their fusion, sound art. 

Remko Scha's vision of the Institute of Artificial Art is to realise complete automation of art production, which is an ongoing concern, because of readily available generative tools. The artworks produced by the IAAA have the potential to be analysed and situated within a larger context, thus serving as a foundation for generating new works. Through the Digital Care Programme, one of the IAAA’ works 'Artificial' is chosen and subjected to a process of re-coding and reflection. This live output graphic generator provides a platform for experimenting with aesthetic frameworks from a contemporary viewpoint.

Remko Scha, Artificial (1993). Screenshot by LI-MA, made on Mac OS 9.2 using the software Hypercard (version 2.4) converted to a modern format.

Event Digital Care: Remko Scha

On Monday, 17 June, LI-MA presented Digital Care: Remko Scha in collaboration with Creative Coding Utrecht and VOGELFREI to present the the re-coded works of Remko Scha’s Artificial .

For more information about the event, please visit the event page by clicking here or in the section on the right of this page. 

Pictures from Digital Care: Remko Scha at VOGELFREI on 17 June, 2023.

Research on IAAA

A research report on Remko Scha's IAAA is available upon request. If you need access, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at info@li-.ma.nl.

Digital Care and REBOOT

Nieuwe Instituut and LI-MA present the exhibition REBOOT: Pioneering Digital Art. Featuring key works from the Netherlands from 1960 to 2000, plus new work by contemporary makers, REBOOT reveals the influence of digital technology on art and society. The Digital Care trajectory functions as a strong basis for the run-up of this public exhibition which runs from 8 October 2023 to 1 April 2024 at Nieuwe Instituut. The exhibition presents the impact of digital technology in art and society and builds on the Digital Canon of the Netherlands, compiled by experts in 2017-2019 commissioned by LI-MA.

Digital Care and REBOOT are supported by Creative Industries Fund NL, Mondriaan Fund, and Network Archives Design and Digital Culture.