Memorabilia

Memorabilia is the title given to the mementos and objects in Nam June Paik’s studio on Broome street in New York. Nam June Paik used four different studios in New York: Mercer Street Studio used for video editing and living; Grand Street Studio used as a warehouse; Green Street Studio used as a storage; Broome Street Studio, which was his main working studio. Paik agreed to relocate and reconstruct his Broome street studio to Nam June Paik Art Center in 2002. This studio collection named Memorabilia has been on exhibit at Nam June Paik Art Center since 2009.

Memorabilia, one of the studio archive collections at Nam June Paik Art Center, is a reconstruction of Nam June Paik’s Broome Street Studio. Furnishings, accessories and documents in the studio were entirely relocated to this new space and its walls and willows were reconstructed in the same style. The studio, where Paik performed electronic and mechanic fabrication with his assistants, features items, including multiple coloring tools, documents, monitors, video devices, various mechanical objects and wires, which give us an idea of what his work process was like. A portrait of George Maciunas, an obituary for Charlotte Moorman and a neon sign that seems perfect for a hotdog shop are hung on the wall. Small portable TV sets that were produced and became popular in the 1980s and piled-up video devices are placed on the shelves. Little robots and wooden masks together with bolts and nuts are scattered on the desk, while early Sony open-reel video device is placed under the desk. The documents found in Paik’s studio include correspondence related to Nam June Paik, production documents, receipts from taxis and stores in New York, notes and books used by Paik and his assistants as well as manuals for different types of televisions and video equipment.