Critical Writing Index

Video is being invented

by Bruce Kurtz

Arts Magazine, Jan. 1973, v. 47, no. 3, pp. 37-44

A brief history of video as art from Nam June Paik's earliest experiments in 1956 to the video collectives emerging in 1973. The author provides detailed analysis of tapes by a selection early video artists, commending video's ability to produce tactile, spatial and colorization effects seen neither in art nor nature. The ability of video to introduce a dialogue between live and taped acts because of its simultaneity also interests the author. The author is hopeful about the future of video art on cable access television, as well as intrigued by the forays of video artists and groups into political lampoons of popular culture. He identifies three categories of video: video by artists, video environments by artists, and video documentaries by recent inductees into video making.

ITEM 1973.024 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Video Synthesizer – Nam June Paik

Video Chair – Nam June Paik

Television Bra – Nam June Paik

T.V. Chair – Nam June Paik

TV In TV Out – Keith Sonnier

Noise – Linda Benglis

Home Tape – Linda Benglis

On Screen – Linda Benglis

Mirror Check – Joan Jonas

Left Side Right Side – Joan Jonas

Vertical Roll – Joan Jonas

Locating #2 – Nancy Holt

Rage and Depression – William Wegman

Milk on Floor – William Wegman

Stomach Stone – William Wegman

Born Without A Mouth – William Wegman

Three Breakfasts – Michael Snow

What's Wrong With Your Eye (Ventriloquism) – William Wegman

Generations – George Bolling

De La – Michael Snow

The Central Region – Michael Snow

Live Taped Video Corridor – Bruce Nauman

Recycle – Video Freex

Lesbian Mothers – Queer Blue Light Gay Revolution Video Project

Lesbian Mothers – David Sasser