TV Cello is a video sculpture of three stacked TV monitors—each encased in plexiglass—with the cello head, tail-piece, and strings attached to form the shape of a cello. Nam June Paik first created TV Cello in 1971 for a performance with Charlotte Moorman, and the early version of the work could be played by Moorman. The instrument was designed to make an electronic sound whenever the string was struck, which influenced the image displayed on the monitor. Moorman would sometimes play by plucking the string with her fingers or tapping on the plexiglass box. Paik produced several TV Cellos, and around ten pieces are left.
