The Berlin-based artist explores human connection, memory, and the fragility of existence in sprawling installations of wool thread
Unboxing an iconic TV Buddha by Nam June Paik
Buddhist iconography and technology merge in one of the artist’s most celebrated works
A bronze Buddha stands over six feet tall, his hand outstretched in a gesture of offering. Nearby, a video records the statue, which faces four television screens. Two screens mirror Buddha's image with a close-circuit camera, two display colorful moving patterns. With this work – whose concept dates back from 1974 – Korean-American artist Nam June Paik, the ‘father of video art’, combines his deep interest in Buddhist philosophy with his characteristic use of technology and multimedia elements. The work functions both as a commentary on the way technology is consumed and as Paik’s attempt to break down barriers between cultures.
Nam June Paik's Standing Buddha with Outstretched Hand (2005) is presented by Gagosian (New York, Basel, London, Los Angeles, Geneva, Hong Kong, Paris, Rome) in the Galleries sector at Art Basel Hong Kong.
Director: Kendra Koh
Production: Carmen Cheng
Camera: Sam Chan and Fuk Pak Jim
