NAM JUNE PAIK:
THE FUTURE IS NOW
THE FUTURE IS NOW
— Nam June Paik
“[W]hile looking out of the window of the moving train, I realized for the first time the old Zen-Cage thesis: “it is beautiful, not because it changes beautifully, but—simply—because it changes.””
1961“[W]hile looking out of the window of the moving train, I realized for the first time the old Zen-Cage thesis: “it is beautiful, not because it changes beautifully, but—simply—because it changes.””
1961“[W]hile looking out of the window of the moving train, I realized for the first time the old Zen-Cage thesis: “it is beautiful, not because it changes beautifully, but—simply—because it changes.””
1961“[W]hile looking out of the window of the moving train, I realized for the first time the old Zen-Cage thesis: “it is beautiful, not because it changes beautifully, but—simply—because it changes.””
1961“[W]hile looking out of the window of the moving train, I realized for the first time the old Zen-Cage thesis: “it is beautiful, not because it changes beautifully, but—simply—because it changes.””
1961“[W]hile looking out of the window of the moving train, I realized for the first time the old Zen-Cage thesis: “it is beautiful, not because it changes beautifully, but—simply—because it changes.””
1961“The Yellow peril! C’est moi.”
1963–1964- Filter
TV Buddha
Content Type
Artwork
Artist
Nam June PaikDating
1974Medium
Closed-circuit video installation with wooden sculpture, monitor and video camera
Video, single channel, 4:3 format, live feed
Dimensions variable
Credits
Collection of Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Image © Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
One of Nam June Paik’s most iconic works, TV Buddha expresses the contrasts and parallels between East and West and between technology and spirituality in a very simple and direct way. A CCTV camera films a Buddha statue, which Paik bought from an antique store. Its static, silent image appears live on a round TV set, inspired by popular sci-fi imagery. Here the Buddha is both the viewer and the viewed image, mirroring our own experience as mass media consumers.
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