Nam June Paik at Tate Modern · works by Nam June Paik, which consisted of seven key works and four...
Transcript of Nam June Paik at Tate Modern · works by Nam June Paik, which consisted of seven key works and four...
Nam�June�Paik��at�Tate�ModernWho�brightened�up�the�past�with�today's�technology�and�predicted�the�future
The�title�of�'pioneer�of�video�art'�does�not�even�come�close�to�explaining�Nam
June�Paik.�Since�the�early�1960s�he�has�used�TV�as�a�canvas�to�showcase
innovative�and�avant-garde�pieces.�The�art�works�looked�new�on�the�outside,
and�inside,�it�offered�a�deep�reflection�on�technology�and�art.
The�reason�he�takes�such�a�dominant�position�in�art�history�may�be�found
here.�Formally,�it�seems�as�though�his�artworks�sever�ties�with�the�past,�but�if
you�look�deeper�inside�you�rediscover�the�past,�reflect�on�the�present,�and
find�grounds�to�go�as�far�as�predicting�the�future.
"Nam�June�Paik�at�Tate�Modern"
As�a�first�step�of�the�partnership�with�Tate,�Hyundai�Motor�supported�the
acquisition�of�nine�key�works�by�the�South�Korean�artist�Nam�June�Paik
(1932-2006).�Through�the�generosity�of�the�artist’s�family�and�with�the
support�of�Tate’s�Asia�Pacific�Acquisitions�Committee,�Tate�Americas
Foundation�and�Hyundai,�Nam�June�Paik’s�works�became�a�part�of�Tate’s
collection.�In�November�2014,�Tate�Modern�opened�a�two-room�display�of
works�by�Nam�June�Paik,�which�consisted�of�seven�key�works�and�four�rarely-
seen�works�on�paper.�These�works�span�more�than�40�years,�and�therefore
you�could�see�his�artistic�achievements.�Viewers�from�across�the�world�were
offered�a�chance�to�look�back�on�the�past�through�his�works�as�well�as�take�a
peek�into�the�future.
Tate�Modern’s�“Media�Networks”�display�aimed�for�a�way�to�show�responses
of�artists�to�the�public�influence�from�technologies�and�mass�media�that�have
changed�and�evolved�for�the�last�100�years.�From�a�painting�with�the�essence
of�the�analogue�media,�to�a�poster�produced�by�printing�technologies�along
with�contemporary�digital�technologies,�the�exhibition�encompasses�a�wide
scope�of�media�and�technologies.�Through�12�sections,�the�exhibition�raises
issues�such�as�gender�politics,�criticism�of�the�system,�or�standards�of
selecting�communication�systems.�Among�them,�7�sections�have�an�artist’s
name�as�their�title;�Nam�June�Paik�is�one�of�them.�The�section�of�Nam�June
Paik�once�again�introduces�some�of�the�works�now�part�of�Tate’s�collection.
Nam�June�Paik,�Embracing�Televisions�with�Art
As�there�is�a�saying�that�a�good�beginning�makes�a�good�ending,�the�start
determines�many�things�that�follow.�If�something�is�familiar�to�us,�it�is
because�someone�pioneered�for�it:�One�example�would�be�artworks�using
televisions�that�can�be�frequently�seen�in�art�museums�today.�In�the�early
1960s,�when�no�one�thought�that�a�television�could�be�included�in�the�scope
of�art,�Nam�June�Paik�brought�the�television�as�a�medium�for�art.�At�that�time,
when�art�and�technologies�were�perceived�as�being�at�opposite�points�and�as
not�being�able�to�coexist�with�each�other,�the�attempts�of�the�artist�caused�a
new�stir�in�the�art�scene.�Tate�Modern�showing�the�works�that�represent�the
bold�attempts�of�the�artist�Nam�June�Paik�proves�that�his�views�are�still�viable
today.�■�with�ARTINPOST