Nam June Paik, Miami, FL, 1990. Photo by Brian Smith. Courtesy of The Bass.From October 4, 2023, to August 16, 2024, The Bass is hosting an exhibition titled Nam June Paik: The Miami Years, showcasing the works of Korean-American visual artist Nam June Paik and exploring his connection to Miami Beach and the broader South Florida community. Nam June Paik was a pioneer in electronic moving images and digital compositions, coining the term “electronic superhighway” in 1974. His works demonstrated a remarkable insight into the role of digital media as an artistic medium, the expansion of global social networks, and the intersection of modern life with technology.
The exhibition is centered around the museum’s recent acquisition of Paik’s TV Cello (2003) and delves into the artist’s lesser-known history in Miami Beach. The presentation underscores Paik’s innovative approach to blending communication and media technologies in his art. Additionally, the exhibition features two remarkable sculptural installations, WING and MIAMI, which were initially commissioned for the Miami International Airport in the early 1990s. These installations featured numerous television monitors that showcased a captivating flow of iconic images from South Florida and around the world, embodying Paik’s unique form of “electronic painting.” While Miami Beach was Paik’s home until his passing in 2006, WING and MIAMI were no longer on public display by the late 1990s. The exhibition offers fresh insights into the artist’s personal connection with the region.
