Now In Korea
Nam June Paik’s ‘My Faust’ Restored After 30 Years at WooYang Museum
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The WooYang Museum in Gyeongju has reopened with a special exhibition of Nam June Paik, featuring two works from his 13-piece series “My Faust” — “Economics” and “Spirituality” — shown publicly for the first time in over 30 years after restoration. Created between 1989 and 1991 and inspired by Goethe’s Faust, the series treats elements of civilization (such as environment, agriculture, economy, population, nationalism, health, art, education, transportation, and communication) as thematic subjects. “My Faust – Economics” is a 3.1 m altar-like stack of televisions decorated with world banknotes and coins, exploring technology, capital, and values. “My Faust – Spirituality” combines religious symbols and video to evoke the human spirit in modern civilization. The show also includes notable works like “Electronic Superhighway 1929 Ford” (a 1929 Ford Model A fused with a traditional wooden carriage), which recalls Paik’s prediction of information flowing like a future “electronic superhighway” (Paik’s term for early concept of the internet), and “Equestrian Statue” referencing Gyeongju’s ancient tomb figures. Twelve other pieces on themes from childhood travels to East Asian philosophy are on display. The exhibition was timed with the museum reopening and the APEC leaders’ meeting in Gyeongju.
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