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

<Nixon>�1965-2002Video,�2�monitors,�black�and�white�and�colour,�sound�and�magnetic��

©�Estate�of�Nam�June�Paik,�1932-2006�Photo�credit:�Andrew�Dunkley,�Tate�Photography