A still from Nam June Paik's "Good Morning, Mr. Orwell" – broadcast live on January 1, 1984, in the United States, France, Korea, Germany and other countries (Courtesy of Nam June Paik Art Center)
This year marks the 40th anniversary of “Good Morning, Mr. Orwell,” a work of “satellite art” planned and presented by pioneering Korean-American artist Nam June Paik on New Year’s Day, 1984.
Paik is often considered the father of video art for his innovative use of television and electronic media to explore themes related to technology, media culture and global communication. His groundbreaking broadcast in 1984, which featured pop music videos, video art and dance, was meant to counter George Orwell’s depressing portrayal of television in the novel “1984.” Paik’s production was broadcast on the 35th anniversary of the publication of Orwell’s novel and aired simultaneously in France, Germany, Korea and the United States. It was an astounding success, reaching more than 25 million viewers.
The Nam June Paik Art Center, located east of Suwon in Gyeonggi-do Province, is currently presenting the exhibition “Wake Up! It’s 2024” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Paik’s show. Paik’s satellite art challenged Orwell’s dystopian vision by highlighting the positive aspects of satellite broadcasting to enhance global connections. It served – and still serves – as a spirited and thought-provoking exploration of media culture and the impact of technology on society, referencing Orwell’s novel while celebrating creativity and expression in the digital age. Paik’s show featured a diverse range of global artists, including Charlotte Moorman on “TV Cello,” a sound performance by John Cage, Joseph Beuys walking about in his “Orwell Leg – Trousers for the 21st Century” and Merce Cunningham dancing with satellite-delayed images of himself.
The exhibition "Wake Up 2024" at Nam June Paik Art Center (Courtesy of Yoon Kwanhee, Nam June Paik Art Center)
While Paik’s “Good Morning Mr. Orwell” is widely known, it can be a challenge to experience the nearly hour-long film on a large screen. The Nam June Paik Art Center’s exhibition gives you the chance to not only view the show in its entirety but also select eight of the 22 sequences to watch on a small monitor. In addition, detailed descriptions of each scene and biographies of the characters are conveniently available on touch screens at the entrance to the exhibit. With “Good Morning, Mr. Orwell,” Paik sought to break down the barriers between fine art and pop culture, as well as between the continents of Europe, America and Asia. In addition to renowned artists of the time, such as Cage, Moorman and Cunningham, the exhibition features videos with popular global musicians who took part in Paik’s production, such as Yves Montand, Oingo Boingo and Sapho. The exhibition also displays prints that Paik created in collaboration with Allen Ginsberg, Cage and Beuys to raise funds for the event.
A view of the exhibition (Courtesy of Nam June Paik Art Center)
The Nam June Paik Art Center’s special exhibition redefines the present as the age of satellites and reexamines the profound meaning of global harmony, one of the concepts Paik explored four decades ago with his satellite art piece. As a tribute to modern artists, the exhibition also features the Korean group Balming Tiger and media artist Sungsil Ryu. Balming Tiger represents alternative K-pop in its freest form, unchained to established structures, which meshes well with Paik’s long history of pushing beyond existing boundaries. Ryu’s work, meanwhile, is expressed through videos, installations and performances and relies on fictional characters who reveal observations about materialistic desire in Korea.
(Courtesy of Nam June Paik Art Center)
Ultimately, this special exhibition serves as a tribute to Nam June Paik, a visionary who never wavered in his affection for humanity and firmly believed that technology would pave the way for new forms of communication and peace. The broadcast of “Good Morning, Mr. Orwell” is a significant event that changed the relationship between art and technology. It highlighted Paik’s innovative approach to multimedia art and his talent for creating compelling experiences that appeal to modern audiences.
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