Magnet TV
1965
Magnet TV is one of Nam June Paik's most iconic works, consisting of a vintage black and white television set with a large horseshoe magnet placed on top. The magnet distorts the cathode ray tube's electron beam, producing constantly shifting abstract forms in luminous blue and white tones on the screen. This piece is a landmark of video and media art, demonstrating how electromagnetic forces can transform broadcast technology into a live generative sculpture. It is widely regarded as a foundational work in the history of new media and conceptual art.
- Medium
- Vintage television set with horseshoe magnet
- Spotted At
- Museum · Whitney Museum of American Art
Notes
This is believed to be the 1965 original or a later authorized version held in the Whitney Museum of American Art collection. The work exists as a unique piece or in very limited form; the horseshoe magnet continuously distorts the television image, meaning no two viewings are identical.
Spotted works by Nam June Paik
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