— Nam June Paik

“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”

1963–1964

“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”

1963–1964

“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”

1963–1964

“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”

1963–1964

“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”

1963–1964

“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”

1963–1964

Electronic Opera #1

Content Type

Artwork

Artist

Nam June Paik

Dating

1969

Medium

Video, single channel, 4:3 format, colour, sound, 4 min 40 sec

Credits

Courtesy of WGBH TV, Boston
X70631

Segment from The Medium is the Medium (1969)
Produced by WGBH TV, Boston
Executive Producer: David Oppenheim
Producers: Ann Gresser, Pat Marx
Director: Fred Barzyk

Electronic Opera #1 was Paik’s contribution to The Medium is the Medium, one of the earliest examples of videos by artists broadcast on public television. WGBH commissioned six artists—Allan Kaprow, Nam June Paik, Otto Piene, James Seawright, Thomas Tadlock and Aldo Tambellin—to create original works for a special “artists’ transmission.” In an ironic twist on the idea of “interactive television,” Paik presented a form of “participation TV” in which he instructed viewers to open or close their eyes.