Nam June Paik envisaged a bigger and wider world through video art. This was possible because Paik considered TV not as a mere device with a picture tube and loudspeakers but as a creative and aesthetic medium of communication. As Saint-Simon or Charles Fourier whom Paik read avidly in his youth had dreamed, can we imagine a world in which our places of work, living, and leisure become unified as one?

TV Commune, the Nam June Paik Art Center’s third special exhibition in 2011, ruminates on these ‘rebellious’ ideals of Paik. The exhibition features the works of Paik and other renowned artists in the history of video art who aimed to bring a kind of revolution to our way of life with TV as a ‘liberated’ medium. And the younger artists in the exhibition also believe that the values of the ideals and ethics pursued by their progressive forebears are still valid, although they have seemingly faded.

The opening of the exhibition is followed by an international symposium. For the purpose of exploring the present meaning of Paik’s understanding of the television medium, experts in art and media studies, including art historians and critics and media and cultural theorists, will discuss the theme of an expanded, viewer-oriented medium for artistic expression. Additionally, we collaborate with ‘Souvenirs from Earth,’ an international cable TV station which, following in Nam June Paik’s footsteps, broadcasts video works through a television network. TV Commune provides a video lounge where you can watch some of the interesting pieces of video art from this channel.

Now, please pick up the remote control and press the power button, and you will see a new TV commune unfolding right before your very eyes.

Manu Park
Director, Nam June Paik Art Center


Artist /
Martin Arnold, Dara Birnbaum, David Cronenberg, Ant Farm, Tae Bum Ha, Heungsoon Im, Yeondoo Jung, Gabriel Lester, Christelle Lheureux, Nam June Paik, Hyun Ki Park, June Bum Park, Souvenirs From Earth, TVTV, Wong Hoy Cheong
 
Special Talk
Thursday 29 September 2011, 2pm
Lecturer: Marcus Kreiss (Founder and CEO of Souvenirs From Earth)
Souvenirs From Earth Information

Shuttle Bus Information
To make a reservation please email to
reservation@njpartcenter.kr
12:15, 15:15 Hapjeong Subway Station (exit #2)
13:00, 16:00 Hannam-dong across from Hannam The Hill
(the former site of Dankook Univ.)