@fellowship

Made live inside the U.S. Pavilion at Expo ’85, AARON generated original ink drawings on a plotter in real time as visitors watched. Guides explained that AARON never drew the same drawing twice. The performance ran for six months, 17 Mar to 16 Sep 1985, and was seen by about five million visitors. The Expo’s report singled AARON out as the most liked exhibit in the U.S. Pavilion. Visitors named it a top favorite. The Tsukuba sheets carry unusual inscriptions. Each is named and dated in pen by AARON, for example, “Aaron 27‑8‑85.” Contemporary Japanese press wrote about “computers as artists,” saying AARON “thinks while drawing.” AARON's inscribed drawings were short-lived and unique to 1985. Cohen reflected, “If it ever signed a painting on its own, that would signal the end of all debate on its intelligence.” The exhibition opens on 16 Oct 2025 in our private space in Notting Hill, London. Paul Cohen, Harold’s son and manager of the Estate, will join us to discuss the work.

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