Channa Horwitz

Channa Horwitz (1932–2013), born in Boyle Heights, California, began developing a strict visual system in the late 1960s called Sonakinatography, which represents time, rhythm, and movement through colored lines, circles, and squares applied to graph paper following precise rules. Each color and line follows a fixed sequence that Horwitz explored through systematic variation. Her 1987 drawing Flowings I (Crescendo I), held in the Schering Stiftung collection, features overlapping lines in eight colors that create a moiré effect and recall Op Art—a 1960s art movement focused on optical illusions and visual movement. The work is part of her Canon Series, which explores shifting movement patterns over defined time spans. Despite the rigid structure, Horwitz allowed for small imperfections, distancing her work from the look of digital precision and giving it a human, vibrant quality. Her conceptual method aligns with Minimal Art, particularly with American artist Sol LeWitt, known for rule-based wall drawings. Although active since the 1960s, Horwitz’s work gained broader international attention only in the 2000s, especially through exhibitions in Europe.