Various color patterns appear on a tube TV screen. Much more vivid than those of conventional TV images, the colors here don’t meet the standard of video footage for broadcasts etc. These images made using a video synthesizer that modulates video signals explore new possibilities in abstract artistic expression based on electronic media and technology, and at once demonstrate that images reproduced through electrical video signals are electronically processable matter.

Artist Nam June PAIK is primarily known as a pioneer in the field of video art utilizing electronic images as a new means of artistic expression. After initially meeting in Japan, PAIK and engineer ABE began to collaborate on the “Paik-Abe Video Synthesizer,” after which PAIK produced a number of video art works based on images created with this device.

While such collaboration realizing an artist’s ideas with an engineer’s technical support, including the development of technology for each artwork, is not a rare case in the realm of media art, this particular collaboration may be regarded as a historical, trailblazing effort in this respect.

On display at “Open Space 2014,” is ABE’s replica of the 1972 version.