Nam June Paik: Art, Media and History – Works by the Pioneer of Video Art in the Spotlight

A Meeting of Art, Television, and Icons of the 20th Century 

On 12 April 1984, German television audiences witnessed an extraordinary experiment: during the talk show Bei Bio, host Alfred Biolek invited Korean video artist Nam June Paik to create an installation live on air. The resulting work, later known as Baum der Versuchung, blended audience participation, technology, and art in an unprecedented way. 

This and other works by the “father of video art” come from the collection of Wulf Herzogenrath, a long-time collaborator and supporter of Paik.

An Iconic Moment: Baum der Versuchung 

With Baum der Versuchung, Nam June Paik brought his vision of “social sculpture” to life, actively involving the audience in the creative process. Beneath an artificial tree, viewers waved green cards, which used “Blue Fox” technology to display edited segments of Paik’s Global Groove from 1973. The vibrant, hypnotic images—replacing the apples on the tree—symbolised the allure and seduction of media. 

The installation will be auctioned alongside four of these original cards, one of which is signed. The tree, the audience, and the technology fused into a unique artwork that questioned the relationship between art, consumerism, and interaction. 

Marilyn Monroe and Media Critique 

Another highlight is Erinnerungen an das 20. Jahrhundert, a work focusing on Marilyn Monroe. This installation explores the destructive power of media, which immortalised Monroe as the seductive blonde while she struggled to escape this image. 

For Paik, this work held special significance. It was featured in major exhibitions, including at the Kunsthalle Bremen in 1999 and the Akademie der Künste in Berlin in 2019. The installation reflects Paik’s exploration of how media shapes both historical and personal narratives. 

Rare Works from the Herzogenrath Collection 

This selection of works from the Wulf Herzogenrath Collection demonstrates the breadth of Nam June Paik’s influence on contemporary art. His pioneering ideas on technology, media, and social engagement remain relevant today, offering a compelling glimpse into the origins of video art.