John Gerrard (b.1974) is an Irish artist who lives and works between Dublin and Vienna.

Gerrard is widely regarded as a pioneer in digital media. His hyper-real works are made using 3D real-time computer graphics, a technology originally developed for military use and now widely adopted by the video game industry. He takes tens of thousands of digital photographs and then recreates a scene with them by implementing the same technology used for video games. The result is seemingly realistic but remains artificial.

Flag (Danube) 2017 portrays a small section of the Danube river as an algorithmic representation. The river color is recreated as a simulation, alongside buildings and trees on the riverbank, are reflections. At the center of the scene, a gasoline spill refracts light to create a vivid prismatic patch, endlessly shifting in shape over time. The camera circles this form as the work unfolds over a full year. The gentle undulation of the waves animates the scene, giving rise to the title of the work.

Irish artist John Gerrard has taken digital technology usually employed by the commercial gaming industry to create virtual landscapes that simulate extremely detailed and authentic rural American farms and terrains. His computer simulated videos use sophisticated computer software and algorithms to reproduce, for example, the annual orbit of the Earth around the Sun or a 24 hour journey from day-to-night.

John Gerrard tells the story behind his new artwork, commissioned for C4 to mark Earth Day Find out more on All 4: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/western-flag

Recent solo presentations include

“Solar Pavilion / World Flag” at Galway International Arts Festival (2017)
“John Gerrard”, Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China (2016)
“Solar Reserve”, Lincoln Centre, New York (2014)
John Gerrard, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth, Australia (2011)
Sow Farm: What You See is Where You’re At, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Scotland (2010)
Directions : John Gerrard, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, US (2009)
John Gerrard, Animated Scene, 53rd International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Italy (2009).