May 26–September 16, 2018
Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Nam June Paik, Robert Breer, Merce Cunningham, John Cage and more
Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.): Open-ended at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea delves into the ground-breaking activities of E.A.T., a pioneering non-profit initiative that began actively promoting and exploring the union of art and technology more than 50 years ago. Founded in New York in 1966, E.A.T. was the brainchild of two artists (Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Whitman) and two engineers (Billy Klüver and Fred Waldhauer) who were proposing to expand the social role of artists and to counteract people’s feelings of alienation brought on by the rapid development of technology.
After the second World War, the planet was inundated with new technologies, such that the period is now often considered as the “end of the mechanical age.” Many of these new technologies were eagerly embraced by artists who longed for more freedom and instruments of expression. While helping artists widen the scope of their artistic expressions, E.A.T. inspired new directions for research, and thus served as a catalyst for the progress of various technologies. Transcending the institutional space of the museum, E.A.T. engaged in innovative experiments and social projects beyond the realm of art.
Now at the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, many projects involving the convergence of art and technology are taking place in Korea. By commemorating and contemplating the activities of E.A.T., that pioneered such multi-disciplinary approach more than fifty years ago, this exhibition seeks to inspire new experiments on the interaction of art and technology. Through their inventive integration of music, dance, theater, and video, E.A.T. humanized technology, thus challenging people’s perceptions and opening new paths. Today, looking back at their remarkable achievements, we are inspired to anticipate and cultivate our own new beginning. This exhibition is curated by Deoksun Park.
For more information, visit the website of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
