UK debut for 'computerised painting'

Blake's Chemical Sundown in action

A "computerised painting" by Californian artist Jeremy Blake featuring the optical effects of Los Angeles pollution is being shown in London.

Blake is a California-trained, New York-based artist who works entirely in digital formats, blurring the boundaries between traditional painting and computer generated images.

Detail of Blake's art work Station to Station

"Once I got the hang of making viable images, I started making my own art," he said.

"I discovered that aspects of the computer bear a strong relationship to traditional painting."

Blake says that his ability to build up layers of translucent colours with a computer is akin to traditional painting.

The work Chemical Sundown begins with a horizon line that changes shape and seems to liquefy.

The changing light, in combination with smog effects creates clouds of colour.

Blake says that the intention is to create the visual equivalent of the controlled distortion in electronic music.

Another section of the film focuses on Hollywood decadence - a usual Blake theme - showing a woman in pink dancing on a pink bed surrounded by feathers.

The 29-year-old artist has been using computers in his work since 1996.

His work has been exhibited at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, New York and at Tate Britain, London.

Though digital art has only really been around in the past decade it is rapidly gaining credibility from institutions who are buying and commissioning such work.

Chemical Sundown will be screened publicly at Dot, Beak Street London from 29 May to 22 June.