Herbert W. Franke


Herbert W. Franke was an Austrian scientist and writer. Die Zeit calls him "the most prominent German writing Science Fiction author".
He is also one of the important early computer artists, creating computer graphics and early digital art since the late 1950s. Franke was also active in the fields of future research as well as speleology. He used his pen name Sergius Both as this Avatar name in Active Worlds and Opensimulator grids. The Sergius Both Award is given for creative scripting in Immersionskunst by Stiftung Kunstinformatik, first time issued at Amerika Art 2022. On November 2, 2025 the Sergius Both Award was given to RSquared and Herzstein for immersive scripting in AI LAND, being part of The Wrong Biennale.
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Biography

Franke was born in Vienna on 14 May 1927. Franke studied physics, mathematics, chemistry, psychology and philosophy in Vienna. He received his doctorate in theoretical physics in 1950 by writing a dissertation about electron optics.
Since 1957, he worked as a freelance author. From 1973 to 1997 he held a lectureship in "Cybernetical Aesthetic" at Munich University. In 1979, he co-founded Ars Electronica in Linz/Austria. In the 1960s he edited the Goldmanns Zukunftsromane book series. In 1979 and 1980, he lectured in "introduction to perception psychology" at the Art & Design division of the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. Also in 1980 he became a selected member of the German PEN club.
A collection of short stories titled "The Green Comet" was his first publication. In 1998, Franke attended a SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference in Orlando and was a juror at the "VideoMath Festival" Berlin. He also took part in innumerable performances and presentations.
In 2006 the Kunsthalle Bremen purchased many artworks by Franke, plus his extensive collection of works by other computer artists. The Franke collections featured prominently in a 2007 exhibition at the Kunsthalle entitled Ex Machina: Early Computer Graphics up to 1979, plus the accompanying catalogue. The is at [ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe|ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe].
Franke died in Egling on 16 July 2022 at the age of 95.
In 2022 the Art Meets Science – Foundation Herbert W. Franke was established in his honour. The Foundation's website includes information about Franke's life and work, plus news and events such as a generative art conference held in Berlin in 2024.

Publications

  • 1963 "Planet der Verlorenen" as Sergius Both.
  • 1964 The Magic of Molecules
  • 1973 The Orchid Cage
  • 1974 The Mind Net
  • 1974 Zone Null
  • 1979 Ypsilon minus
  • 1971 Computer Graphics – Computer Art
  • 1985 Computer Graphics – Computer Art
  • 2003 "Vorstoß in die Unterwelt – Abenteuer Höhlenforschung" was published.
  • 2004 "Sphinx_2" released.
  • 2005 "Cyber City Süd" released.
  • 2006 "Auf der Spur des Engels" released.
  • 2007 "Flucht zum Mars" released.
  • 2024 ''The Orchid Cage''

Awards and honours

Museum collections and exhibitions