Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Nam June Paik. It dates from 1961 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
"* The instructions sound like a game or a performance—just watching a taxi meter tick.
This is a simple, beige card with black text. The words read: *"THEATRE FOR POOR MAN. Summon a taxi, position yourself inside, request a long ride, OBSERVE THE METER."* The date and artist’s name are printed at the bottom: *"Nam June Paik, 1961."*
The instructions sound like a game or a performance—just watching a taxi meter tick. It’s playful but also a little strange, like a puzzle.
If you like this kind of odd, interactive art, check out Nam June Paik.
Overview
Untitled is an offset lithograph created by Nam June Paik in 1961, held at The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print features a set of instructions: to take a taxi ride and observe the meter, prompting the viewer to consider the relationship between time, space, and cost.
Technique & Style
The work is a simple, text-based composition on a beige card, with the instructions and artist's name printed in black.
Context
This work exemplifies Paik's experimental approach to art, blurring the lines between instruction, performance, and viewer participation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nam June Paik was a South Korean artist. He worked with a variety of media and is considered to be the founder of video art. He is credited with the first use (1974) of the term "electronic super highway" to describe…
