Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings at CSULB

Brian Eno on the Wall at California State Long Beach's University Museum of Art (UAM)--until Dec. 13, 2009. Photo: UAM

Brian Eno came to California State University Long Beach (CSULB) on Sept. 20 to give a lecture about his 77 Million Paintings at the school’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center (CPAC). Tickets were as much as $100 each.

Brian Eno giving a presentation at CSULB. Photo by Megan Clancy

Eno is probably well known for his work on ambient music, a type of New Age music, since the 1970s—especially among older people, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_music. The British-raised artist has worked with U2, Grammy-winning Coldplay and David Bowie among many other artists as their musical collaborator, according to CSULB’s University Art Museum’s press release.

Eno, dressed in black, on a Sunday evening in Long Beach, opened his presentation with “Thank you for coming,” with a smile. “The purpose of the 77 Million Paintings is to see the combination of language and change,” Eno said. “I want people to sit back and look at the paintings evolve for hours.” He often joked during his lecture, making the entire audience laughing.

One of Eno's work is displayed at the UAM. Photo: UAM

Eno used computers to create the moving images by superimposing the images over each other—in which he used 400 separate images in his newest masterpiece—the 77 Million Paintings. Eno was fascinated with Generative Art because he wanted to show art that evolves. “I want people to come and see unfamiliar images which primarily use technology to create the art, even if the images do not make any sense,” Eno said. “I like to use different things in art, and to give people a constructed view.” He calls his art an experience.

To make 77 Million Paintings clear, Eno made sure that each image completed its stage before it evolves into an new image. “I want people to experience art in a wide space because this evolving art may not make sense in one spot while it could at a different point of view,” Eno said. Eno had an objective of showing his music in a visual way, using 77 Million Paintings as his opportunity, with music emanating from inserted auditory boom boxes. A trip to the mountains inspired Eno to create this new masterpiece. “I really love it and I want to show change because art and people change all the time,” Eno said.

Brian Eno next to a still image of his work. Photo by Megan Clancy