Three Eggs by Nam June Paik
(1975–1982) A video camera pointed at an egg, a monitor showing the live video feed of that camera, and a second monitor that has had its internals removed, within which sits another egg.
Are we looking a three eggs? Is the image of the egg a sufficient egg? Is the second egg, which a different egg, a better representation?
And why did viewing the piece feel oppressive and heavy? Is it the intense scrutiny of these eggs, both by us and the camera? Is the camera’s looking the same as our looking? This whole things smacks of surveillance, I holler as I sweep out of the room.
[Some private content has been omitted.]