[Gallery Walk] "I Want to Properly Convey the Value of World-Renowned Artist Nam June Paik"

Rian Gallery Seoul Hosts Nam June Paik Solo Exhibition Until January 16... Featuring 27 Works Including Video Sculptures, Prints, and Paintings

Nam June Paik 'Volta', 1992, Aluminum framework, neon, electronic components. Hardware: 3 Sony 8 televisions, 1 Sony laser disc player, 1 laser disc, vintage television cabinet, 195.5x104x61 cm
Photo by Lian Gallery

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] Lian Gallery Seoul is presenting a solo exhibition of video art pioneer Nam June Paik (1932?2006) until the 16th of next month. The exhibition features a total of 27 works, including video art pieces, 10 prints, and 6 paintings.

Works from the collection of Lian Gallery CEO Hyeryeong Ahn are also showcased in this exhibition. CEO Ahn, who owns 9 works by Nam June Paik, says that Nam June Paik is her personally most beloved artist.

The 1992 work "Volta," displayed in the underground space, is part of CEO Ahn’s collection. The title "Volta" is derived from the name of Alessandro Volta, the Italian physicist who first developed the battery. This video sculpture creates eyes and a mouth using three small monitors, and inside a spherical TV case representing the body, a neon-shaped volt (V) is inserted.

On both sides of "Volta," eight colorful robot prints are hung, four on each side. These are works titled "Evolution, Revolution, Resolution," created in 1989. The eight robots represent figures related to the French Revolution, such as Jean-Paul Marat, Maximilien Robespierre, and Georges Danton.

Nam June Paik 'Evolution, Revolution, Resolution_Robespierre', 1989, lithography, etching, 70.2x52.4cm
Photo by Lian Gallery

The French government commissioned Nam June Paik in 1989 to create a work commemorating the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. Nam June Paik produced a 3-meter-long series of video sculptures called "Revolutionary Family Robots" using old TVs and radio cables. The print works titled "Evolution, Revolution, Resolution" were made using etching techniques based on these sculptures.

On the first floor exhibition space, visitors can see Nam June Paik’s 1997 work "Robot Jeong Yak-yong," which expresses respect for the Korean scholar Jeong Yak-yong. Also on display is the print "Olympic Centennial," commemorating the 1992 Barcelona Olympics held for the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games.

This is the third time Lian Gallery has held a solo exhibition of Nam June Paik. CEO Ahn explained the reason for hosting the exhibition was to properly promote the value of Nam June Paik’s works as a world-renowned artist. "The prices of Nam June Paik’s works are being driven down in our country. Nam June Paik is a global artist whose works are traded at high prices in overseas galleries. However, in Korea, galleries lower the prices by putting works up for auction. It is to the extent that overseas galleries find it puzzling. We need to cherish Nam June Paik and properly recognize the value of his works."

Nam June Paik 'Dasan Jeong Yak-yong', 1997, Single-channel video sculpture with 9 monitors and various objects, 149x126x53 cm
Photo by Lian Gallery

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.