Nam June Paik
(Korea, United States of America 1932–30 Jan 2006)
- Title
- TV cello
- Year
- 1976
- Media categories
- Time-based media, Sculpture, Video
- Materials used
- transparent synthetic polymer resin, television monitors, video tape and player, wood, mixed media
- Dimensions
-
cello: 142.0 x 46.5 x 52.0cm base: 40.0 x 92.0 x 95.0cm overall installed: 170.0 x 92.0 x 95.0cm
- Credit
- John Kaldor Family Collection at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program - Accession number
- 343.2011
- Copyright
- © Nam June Paik Estate
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Nam June Paik was a pioneer of video installation in the early 1960s. Associated with the international conceptual movement Fluxus, Paik regularly collaborated with other Fluxus artists such as Joseph Beuys and George Maciunas.
In 1976 John Kaldor invited Paik and his collaborator, the cellist Charlotte Moorman to create a Kaldor Public Art Project in Australia. As part of the project Moorman played the ‘TV cello’. Made from three televisions removed from their sets so that their inner workings can be seen, with an attached cello bridge, tailpiece and strings forming a cello-like instrument.
‘TV Buddha’ was also made in Sydney in 1976 using an old wooden Maitreya (Buddha of the future) from the Kaldor collection. ‘Kaldor candle’ was made in 1996 for John Kaldor, who remained friends with Paik until the artist’s death in 2006. Both ‘TV Buddha’ and ‘Kaldor candle’ employ a conceptual use of video – first developed by Paik – in which a camera and a monitor loop in real time, blurring the object–subject distinction. This feedback idea was used by leading conceptual artists in the 1970s, including Bill Viola, Dan Graham and Mike Parr.
- Bibliography (4)
-
Wayne Tunnicliffe (New Zealand; Australia) (Editor), John Kaldor Family Collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2011, 160, 161 (colour illus.).
'Kaldor and contemporary' by Wayne Tunnicliffe, pg.26-29, Look Apr 2011, Apr 2011, 28.
Sophie Forbat (Australia) (Editor), 40 years: Kaldor Public Art Projects, Sydney, 2009, 40, 115 (illus.). installation view with Charlotte Moorman
Nicholas Baume (Australia) (Author), Museum of Contemporary Art (Australia, estab. 1989), From Christo and Jeanne-Claude to Jeff Koons: John Kaldor Art Projects and Collection, 1995, 33 (illus.), 85. installation view with Charlotte Moorman
- Exhibition history (6)
-
Charlotte Moorman and Nam June Paik, Art Gallery of South Australia, 22 Mar 1976–26 Mar 1976.
Charlotte Moorman and Nam June Paik, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 01 Apr 1976–07 Apr 1976.
(On loan to the Art Gallery of South Australia), Art Gallery of South Australia, Jul 1986–Oct 1991.
From Christo and Jeanne-Claude to Jeff Koons: John Kaldor Art Projects and Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, 12 Dec 1995–17 Mar 1996.
Nam June Paik, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 10 Jan 2004–08 Feb 2004.
40 years: Kaldor Public Art Projects, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 02 Oct 2009–14 Feb 2010.
