Insider Focus: Nam June Paik and Video Art at the Whitney

Insider Series members in the Curate Your Own Program

Nam June Paik (1932–2006) was among the first artists to address head-on how electronic image media permeates and influences globalized society. Born in Korea, Paik’s career took him from Asia to Europe and ultimately the United States. Drawing inspiration from mentor John Cage and the Fluxus movement, Paik went on to pioneer what was later recognized as the new genre of video art. In 1982, the Whitney mounted the first retrospective of Paik’s art, a defining moment for the artist and for video art. Today, the Museum is committed to the ongoing preservation and display of Paik’s work, as well as electronic artworks created by other artists. Learn about these efforts during this special program with Whitney senior technician Richard Bloes and consulting conservators Reinhard Bek and Christine Frohnert.

Richard Bloes is a senior film and video technician in the exhibitions department the Whitney as well as a practicing artist. A long-time Whitney staff member, he worked on the the 1982 Whitney retrospective of Nam June Paik’s work. His current work includes collaborating in efforts to preserve and display video works by Paik and other artists.

Reinhard Bek and Christine Frohnert are partners at bek&fronhnert LLC, a New York–based art conservation studio. Their combined 30 years of wide-ranging museum and research work inform an expert approach to the conservation of modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, and kinetic and electronic media art. Bek and Frohnert are consulting conservators at the Whitney.

Insider Series members are invited to select one of the following sessions:

Option 1: Wednesday, September 24, 7 pm
Option 2: Sunday, October 12, 2 pm

RSVP required. Invitations will be sent to Insider Series members. To upgrade, please call (212) 570-3641.