Nam June Paik did a significant amount of work with television sets as in this piece Electronic Superhighway which is approximately 15 x 32 x 4 feet. It is forty-seven-channel and closed-circuit video installation with 313 monitors, neon, and steel structure ; color and sound. (The Worlds of Nam June Paik) Nam was born in Korea and came to the U.S. in 1964. The neon lights outline a figure of The United States and every state inside the outline is the 313 monitors held by wood shelves and tables, not to forget Alaska and Hawaii are incorporated as well although they are not connected. This display is in the Collection of artist and Holly Solomon Gallery in New York.
In this work representing the United States as a whole with television sets shows me, even in existence today, that media is the United States and people have let television run this country. I love his way of using television in a unique way, taking it to a level in which no one has done before. His work has repetition, and political view. Reminds me of pieces by Peter Kubelka and Andy Warhol. Nam June Paik was influenced by John Cage as well as so many artists were. Nam June Paik said "Skin has become inadequate in interfacing with reality. Technology has become the body's new membrane of existence." (brainyquotes.com) Which by this quote makes me think even more that his Elctronic superhighway is representing The united States being run by technology.
Nam June Paik's role in Contemporary art history and in the establishment of a new aesthetic discourse is unique. (The Worlds of Nam June Paik) Nam June Paik influenced by media and the idea of how media affects people everyday. Paik was the first to use the phrase "electronic superhighway," (http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=71478) He incorporates televisions with much of his work in a very contemporary way, many works in the outline of robots with televisions. Nam June Paik did not always focus on televisions and his earlier work had pieces with string instruments and readymade sculptures.
John G Hanhardt, The Worlds of Nam June Paik
New York, New York Guggenheim Museum Publications 2000
http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=71478
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nam_june_paik.html
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