Centre Pompidou Video Art 1965–2005

Assembled from one of the world's great collections, explore the largest history of video art ever seen in Australia.

Centre Pompidou Video Art 1965-2005 traces the evolution of the video image in contemporary art and explores the aesthetic possibilities of video as a creative medium.

The exhibition is drawn from the collection of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which has been exhibiting, collecting and interpreting multimedia artwork since the 1970s. It features works by artists who have greatly influenced the development of video art, including Nam June Paik, Bruce Nauman, and Bill Viola, as well as works by a younger generation of innovative artists such as Isaac Julien and Pierre Huyghe.

Since the introduction of video and portable media technology in the 1960s, many artists seeking new modes of expression and a wider forum for their work quickly adopted these technologies as a more affordable and practical alternative to film. Initially using video as a means by which to document their performances, artists soon began to explore a diverse range of subjects and more engaging ways to present their work, including audience participation and large scale installations.

While historical developments in video and new media art can be traced through the exhibition, the groupings of the works also reflect intergenerational dialogues, connections, and patterns of influence between the artists.

All works courtesy Musée national d'art moderne Collection, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France. 

Curated by Christine Van Assche, Curator of New Media at the Centre Pompidou.