Three Elements refers to Nam June Paik’s three laser works, Circle, Square, and Triangle, created over three years since 1997. As Paik had often stated his wish to visualize the idea of “cheon-ji-in (Heaven, Earth, and Man)” with lasers, one may assume that the three geometric forms symbolize won-bang-gak (circle, square, and triangle) that represents cheon-ji-in in traditional Korean culture. Three Elements displays the respective forms of a circular, square, and triangular wooden frame with mirrors attached. The interior is visible as the front plane is a glass mirror. A colored laser beam is shot through a small hole into a prism rotated by a speed-controlled DC motor. Lasers refracted and distributed by the prism are reflected by the mirror, continuously and dynamically moving, and transferring the limited space into one of infinite depth.
