It’s been two years since Luis van Seixas, preparator for the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, put out a call to musicians and composers asking for contributions to a special soundtrack project. Nam June Paik’s Vide-O-belisk, the tower of cabinet televisions, video loops, and neon that dominates the Brooks’ rotunda, is adorned with images of musical notes and musical imagery, but it is entirely silent. “The Paik Sessions, Volume One,” gathered the first 10 pieces of music created in response to Paik’s site-specific sculpture, which was installed at the Brooks by the artist in 2002. On Thursday, July 24th, the Brooks celebrates what would have been the visionary artist’s 82nd birthday with the release of “The Paik Sessions, Volume Two.” The Korean-born artist passed away in 2006.
Celebrating Nam June Paik
This week’s Art & A Movie night at the Brooks doubles as a party in Paik’s honor and features local cellist Jonathan Kirkscey, performing music created for the Vide-O-belisk. The musical performance is followed by screenings of three of Paik’s films paying tribute to a range of composers and artists including John Cage, Lou Reed, Allen Ginsberg, Charlotte Moorman, Joseph Beuys, Keith Haring, and Philip Glass. The Paik films include Global Groove (1973, 28 minutes), Bye Bye Kipling (1986, 30 minutes), and MAJORCA-fantasia (1989, 5 minutes).
Participants will also be able to design their own Vide-O-belisk-inspired artwork using a retro TV photo frame, wire, and a photographic image created onsite by Amurica.