NAM JUNE’S FIRST TAPE. 2002.

Edinburgh: Show and Tell Editions, 2002
Standard VHS Cassette tape in box with printed insert content of Baladi’s video investigation into Nam June Paik’s mythical first video tape piece (sometimes referred to as “The Pope Tape”). Paik picked up an early portable video recorder and filmed the crowds attending the Pope’s NYC visit from a moving taxi. The tape was later shown that same evening to a Fluxus event – Paik’s tape is usually regarded as the very first use of filmed video in an art context (Vostell previously used video tape taken from recording a TV programme but this was the first filmed work). 
Baladi’s investigation takes place in a yellow cab touring the streets of New York while various possible sources of information are quizzed over the telephone about the original art event.
Baladi’s voice is joined by voiced responses in English from June Nam Paik himself, Barbara London (the video curator at MOMA), Shigeco Kubota (Nam June Paik’s companion) as well as Don Foresta, Russel Connorand John Hanhart. The replication of Paik’s activity underscores the artist’s urgent attempts to discover more about this legendary event. Voiced in English with French sub-titles. Issued in an edition of 30 tapes plus 2 A/Ps, the tape has both PAL and NSTC versions allowing for viewing on both US and European VCRs.