Video Flag x

Nam June Paik American, 1932 - 2006
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About the Artwork

Paik uses video as his art form to create rapidly moving images that combine to form the pattern of stars and stripes of the American flag. The television sets project a flickering series of predominantly red, white, and blue images meant to visually engage the viewer who is accustomed to the passivity associated with watching television. Paik emphasizes the pop cultural influences of America, the stars and stripes of the flag, and the television set, while making a metaphorical statement about the dominance of technology in the twentieth century.

Video Flag x

1985

Nam June Paik

1932 - 2006

American

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84 10-inch quasar televisions, 3 channels of video (color), laserdiscs, laserdisc players, acrylic cabinet

Overall: 74 1/2 × 138 3/4 inches (189.2 cm × 3 m 52.4 cm)

Film and Video

Contemporary Art after 1950

Founders Society Purchase with funds from Lila and Gilbert B. Silverman

F1986.40

Copyright Not Evaluated

Markings

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Provenance

The artist;
(Carl Solway Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA);
1986-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance, please visit:

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Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

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Published References

Bulletin of the DIA 62, no. 3 (1986): (cover ill.), (fig. 1).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Nam June Paik, Video Flag x, 1985, 84 10-inch Quasar televisions, 3 channels of video (color), Laserdiscs, Laserdisc players, acrylic cabinet. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase with funds from Lila and Gilbert B. Silverman, F1986.40.

Video Flag x
Video Flag x