Zoom Buddha, after Nam June Paik

installation view

2022

Gilded, inlayed wood Buddha, laptop, halo light ring, 11” x 14” (x 108 prints), linoleum prints on paper, gold and silver leaf

This piece channels the timeless work of video installation artist Nam June Paik. Communication technology has rapidly evolved since the creation of his legendary 1974 installation TV Buddha, yet the questions of self, humanity and media is relevant as ever. Zoom Buddha honors his legacy and reimagines his work in the present-day context: the pandemic, social media, AI, streaming entertainment and virtual communication.

The word Phúc translates to Happiness or Good Fortune in Vietnamese and is hand printed 108 times on paper with gold, silver and copper leaf accents. There are 108 prayer beads in a Buddhist Mala strand, used to keep count while reciting, chanting or mentally repeating a mantra. Inspired by traditional Joss paper, also known as ghost or spirit money, the paper is burned in traditional ancestor honor ceremonies during special holidays. They are thin sheets of paper, traditionally made from bamboo and decorated with a square of gold or silver foil that symbolizes prosperity.

photography by Jeff Cravotta