A movie depicting the half-life of craftsmen who repair old TVs to protect video art work "The Fine Art of Television Repair"

In "video art" using video and audio, equipment such as television that displays contents is also part of the work. However, these electronic devices have a lifetime, and one of them breaks down. Documentary that summarizes half-life of Mr. Qi Chen Rui undertaking the work of preservation of video art work exhibited at many museums such as American Museum of Modern Art,Great Big StoryHas published it on YouTube.

The Fine Art of Television Repair - YouTube


From the 1960's to the 1970's, television became one of the most influential media, and many artists at the time occupied a position where they could not ignore television and work.


Peter Oleksik, who is in charge of assisting media conservation at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, said, "TV at that time was completely new, everyone was absorbed."


"But television is a consumer electronics product and has one big problem," Mr. Oleksik said, suggesting the existence of a problem.


Advanced AV at Whitney Museum of Art (Audio / Visual) Richard Brauz, who works as a technician, said, "Unlike paintings and sculptures, electronic devices such as televisions used in artworks can be broken without harm in any way."


The artworks exhibited at museums have projected images on older televisions, etc. However, these devices suffer from the risk of suddenly failing. So, when I no longer picture appears, do you to do Museum of the person in charge?


Mr. Oleksik answered, "The Museum of Modern Art, New York calls" Louis. "


Mr. Blows also said, "It is" Rui "that we will contact at the beginning," and both museums will ask Rui to repair it.


Who is this "Louis" who is said to be indispensable for the protection of video art work using electronic equipment such as television?


"My name is Qi Chen Rui.CTL ELECTRONICSI am an electrician in "


"I was born in Chongqing, China during the Second World War ......"


"After the war, I moved to Shanghai, but after that I decided to live with Hong Kong and Taiwan."


"Since I was a child, I am interested in finding out how things are moving ..."


"I loved to disassemble everything in my childhood days and try repairs."


"One day I will study the structure of television, but I remember what was really difficult for me at that time."


"Still, commentaries such as" scanning "" sawtooth wave "" sine wave "made me crazy"


"However, there was no television broadcast in Taiwan at that time, and I saw the fact that television is actually moving since I came to the United States of America."


"And, as I came to the United States, because I understood self-taught structure of television, I decided to work at a TV repair shop."


"After that, in 1969 I launched a shop that handled the latest television and photography equipment at that time."


"Then, this shop became a place where many TV stakeholders gathered, and well-known artists have come to visit."


"Artist'sAndy · WarholAnd singers'John LennonI bought the equipment at my shop. "


"Also, director of the filmWoody AllenAnd Shirley Clarke also met this shop. "


"Also, also a film directorFrancis Ford CoppolaI definitely visited my shop on weekends. "


"At that time, I was not only selling items at this store but also customizing the shooting equipment according to the demands of the artists."


"There is a memory that this work done while interacting with the artists was a lot of fun"


"The work we deal with in recent years is mainly the conservation work of exhibits at museums, and the artworks that contain electronic equipment will be sent to my shop."


"The purpose of the museum is to keep the work as it is, so I am trying to repair only the interior of the machine so that the appearance will not change"


"Equipment like television will fail necessarily due to heat, malfunction, etc., if time comes."


"But I understand how to obtain the necessary parts to repair the equipment and what can be substituted."


"For this reason, the museum calls me as a member of the artist who made the original work."


"I am a New York Modern Art Museum ... ...."


"Whitney Art Museum"


"Solomon · R · Guggenheim Museum"


"It is involved in conservation of the work of the Metropolitan Museum of Art"


"I think that I would like to keep the work of all the artists and I came to think that it is my duty."


"It would be a pleasure for me if this could be realized."