YONGIN, Aug. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Two decades have passed since the luminous spectacle of Nam June Paik’s 2002 creation, the Transmission Tower, illuminated the urban expanse. Now, this iconic artwork finds itself once again gracing the premises of the Nam June Paik Art Center, an exclusive institution bearing his illustrious name.
Under the aegis of the Nam June Paik Art Center, which operates under the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, a remarkable exhibition titled “Transmission: Reaching You” is set to unfold. This exceptional exposition will unfold within the outdoor precincts of the center as well as its second exhibition hall, commencing on August 31 and extending its radiance until December 3rd.
Drawing inspiration from the precedent set by the original Transmission Tower’s installations in New York in 2002 and Sydney in 2004, this exhibition is poised to pay homage through lasers to Yoon’s masterpiece, “32 Cars for the 20th Century: Play Mozart’s Heartbreak Song Silently” (1997), sourced from the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Nam June Paik’s monumental creation, the Transmission Tower, conceived during his lifetime, stands as a public marvel. Manifesting as an 8-meter-tall transmission tower, it unleashes a cascade of red, blue, and green laser beams, dramatically reshaping the surrounding vista.
Following its captivating outdoor showcases at New York City’s Rockefeller Center in 2002 and Sydney’s Opera House in 2004, this masterpiece found its permanent home at the Nam June Paik Art Center. Now, after two decades, it is unveiled to Korean audiences for the first time, bearing witness to Paik’s enduring influence.
Within the exhibition’s second chamber, a multi-channel presentation of a video intrinsically linked to the Transmission Tower, drawn from Paik’s video archive, will captivate visitors.
This exposition also delves into the extensive preparations and inaugural moments in the summer of 2002 in New York City. It encompasses an opening spectacle where the ailing Nam June Paik himself skillfully played an electronic piano, a pivotal interview capturing Paik’s essence, and trials in laser programming that underscore the creation’s technical prowess.
Image credit: Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation / photonews@koreabizwire.com
