Exhibitions commemorate Paik Nam-june
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“Turtle” Courtesy of Seoul Museum of Art
Events mark 10th anniversary of media artist's passing
By Kwon Mee-yoo
2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of media artist Paik Nam-june. A series of exhibitions and events commemorating the media art pioneer are being held around the late artist's birthday which fell on July 20.
The Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province organized a special exhibition titled "New Gameplay" Wednesday.
The exhibit explores media art in the context of games, which is basically an extension of Paik's philosophy of combining art and technology.
Forty-five works of 34 artists are on display, ranging from a popular video game to experimental contemporary works of art touching on the concept of gaming. Visitors can operate and experience most of the art pieces for a better understanding of digital gameplay and contemporary art.
Bill Viola's "The Night Journey" employs first-person-shooter games for a meditative experience, while Chinese artist Feng Mengbo interprets communist propaganda in a 16-bit video game titled "Long March: Restart." Jeffrey Shaw's "The Legible City" allows visitors to take a simulated bicycle ride.
The exhibit runs until Feb. 19, 2017. For more information, visit njpartcenter.kr or call 031-201-8500.
“Video Chandelier 4” / Courtesy of Seoul Museum of Art
Gallery Yeh in Seoul holds "The Paik Nam June Show" at Seoul's Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from July 21 to Oct. 30.
The exhibit offers around 100 of Paik's media pieces as well as 43 photographs of the late artist taken by photographer Lim Young-kyun.
Paik's small and large works are displayed in the unique curved interior of the DDP. Major works on exhibit include "Turtle," a gigantic 10-meter-long turtle-shaped video sculpture using 166 monitors, and "M200," Paik's tribute to Mozart.
Some of Paik's "Video Chandeliers" are on display as well. The intricate video installations hanging in a forest setting demonstrate Paik's perspective on technology and nature. The exhibit also features Paik's drawings and objects, hinting at the artist's passion and ideas.
Visit paiknamjuneshow.com for more information.
Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) held an opening ceremony for "Hello Paik Nam June," a memorial for the artist, Wednesday.
Located at the site of Paik's former home in Changsin-dong, northeastern Seoul, the traditional Korean hanok house will be revamped to give insights on the artist's childhood, rather than displaying his artworks.
SeMA purchased the lot last October and originally planned to open the memorial around July, but the opening is postponed to November.
At the opening ceremony, artist Baik Hyun-jhin presented a performance of Korean and Western musical instruments and Kim Sang-don paid homage to Paik's artistic world in a performance inspired by a shamanistic ritual.