[Gallery Walk] Paik Nam-june's Prediction of 'World Web Communication'

Hakgojae, Paik Namjun, Yoon Seoknam, Kim Gilhu 3-Person Exhibition
36 Paintings, Sculptures, and Installations Displayed

In an era when people enjoyed the cutting edge of technology by cruising highways in cars, Nam June Paik predicted that the era of humans transmitting information through transportation would end, and a future would come where data would be sent worldwide via an information superhighway. Through his works, he foresaw that in the digital age, the concepts of distance and space would disappear. His work 'W3' (1994), composed of 64 TV monitors connected by thick cables, was Nam June Paik’s early vision of the future 'information superhighway.'

Artist Nam June Paik 'W3'
Photo provided by Hakgojae

Hakgojae in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, held a three-person exhibition titled 'Ham (咸): Sentient Beings' featuring Nam June Paik, Yoon Seok-nam, and Kim Gil-hoo. This exhibition showcases 36 paintings, sculptures, and installations by the three artists in one place. 'Ham,' the 31st hexagram in the Chinese classic 'I Ching' (周易), symbolizes art and love. According to the 'I Ching,' the first 31 hexagrams relate to the way of heaven, or celestial principles, while from the 31st hexagram onward, they pertain to human affairs. Thus, 'Ham' represents harmony and joy among all things. The English title 'Sentient Beings' also carries the meaning of all living beings (衆生). This concept, advocated by Australian philosopher Peter Singer, calls for respect beyond anthropocentric humanism to include all human and non-human entities.

In this way, the exhibition brings together works by three artists embodying the meaning of 'sentient beings.' Nam June Paik (1932?2006) is represented by 'W3' (1994), 'Gu-Electronic Point' (1990), and 'Internet Dweller' (1994). 'W3' (World Wide Web) connects 64 TV monitors with thick cables to create a form resembling an information superhighway. Art critic Lee Jin-myung explained, "The video art scenes in W3 represent all human stories and harmony," adding, "It conveys the idea that everyone shares information so that no one is excluded, and with the information obtained, people can move forward into a new world."

Artist Nam June Paik's 'Internet Dweller'
[Photo provided by Hakgojae]

'Gu-Electronic Point' and 'Internet Dweller,' created to celebrate the value of global harmony proclaimed at the 1990 Italy World Cup after the end of the Cold War, reflect Nam June Paik’s belief that with the opening of the internet and the universalization of knowledge and information, humanity will build an equal world. Yoon Seok-nam (84), a leading figure in East Asian feminist art, unveiled the series '1025: Without People and People' (2008), which contemplates animal rights. This work was made by carving the shapes of 1,025 abandoned dogs out of wood and then drawing the dogs with ink on top. Through this piece, the artist conveys the message that humans and animals are equal.

Artist Yoon Seok-nam '1025: Without People and People'
[Photo provided by Hakgojae]

Yoon Seok-nam said, "After visiting 'Aesin’s House' in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, run by grandmother Lee Ae-shin, who cares for 1,025 abandoned dogs, I felt the impression of a person quietly walking the path humans should take. I stopped all other work and started this project. The work expresses my affection for abandoned dogs and my desire to be forgiven for the mistakes of humans who abandoned them."

She explained that it took five full years to complete the work. As someone who has raised four companion dogs including one abandoned dog, she recalled, "The pencil drawings alone took two years, and the woodwork took three years. After cutting large cylindrical Canadian wood and bringing it to the studio, I shaped it into dog forms and painted them while looking at photos of abandoned dogs I took myself."

Artist Kim Gil-hoo 'Untitled'
[Photo courtesy of Hakgojae]

Kim Gil-hoo (62), an artist who constantly pursues new painting with themes of the wise sage (賢者) and right enlightenment (正覺), meets the audience through 'Untitled' (2014) and 'Hands of Thought' (2010). The artist introduced, "Until now, I have tried to capture the deep inner self of people through expressionism. Since expressionism is unchanging as long as humans paint, I have researched and worked hard to incorporate my expressiveness into painting." He added, "Through my work, I aimed to depict not Kim Gil-hoo’s ego but a universal self, and through heavy, singular brushstrokes in fast work, I tried to convey feeling and depth." The exhibition runs until April 20.