ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Archiving Video Art: From Schum's Fernseh-Galerie to Bicocchi's Art/Tapes/22

publication · 2026-04-23

This article addresses the difficulties of archiving video art, with a focus on initiatives in Europe. In 1971, Howard Wise established Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) in New York, marking the inception of the first nonprofit dedicated to video art, which provides a Resource Guide for media art. The Tate Gallery in London is committed to the ongoing exhibition of works reliant on technology. In 1968, Gerry Schum initiated the Fernseh-Galerie Berlin to showcase land and conceptual art, with his collection later acquired by Egidio Marzona and Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in 2002. Maria Gloria Conti Bicocchi launched Art/Tapes/22 in Florence in 1972, producing videos until 1974. A 2011 conference celebrated her impact, while the Smithsonian American Art Museum restored Nam June Paik's installations in 2009.

Key facts

  • Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) was founded in 1971 by Howard Wise in New York.
  • Gerry Schum launched Fernseh-Galerie Berlin in 1968 to broadcast art on television.
  • Schum's collection was acquired by Egidio Marzona and later by Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in 2002.
  • Maria Gloria Conti Bicocchi founded Art/Tapes/22 in Florence in 1972 with Bill Viola.
  • Art/Tapes/22 tapes were acquired by ASAC of the Venice Biennale in 1976.
  • Nam June Paik's unrealized project Video Events Composed on the Way to Rome (1974) involved destroying a camera.
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum acquired Paik Foundation archives in 2009.
  • A conference on Art/Tapes/22 took place on 26–27 May 2011 at Pinacoteca Civica di Follonica.

Entities

Artists

  • Howard Wise
  • Gerry Schum
  • Gino De Dominicis
  • Ger Van Elk
  • Barry Flanagan
  • Gilbert & George
  • Richard Long
  • Maria Gloria Conti Bicocchi
  • Bill Viola
  • Primo Conti
  • Giulio Paolini
  • Jannis Kounellis
  • Nam June Paik
  • John G. Hanhardt
  • Wladimiro Dorigo
  • Germano Celant
  • Anna Mazzanti
  • Valentina Valentini
  • Silvia Borgini
  • Cosetta G. Saba
  • Egidio Marzona
  • Martin Wisser
  • Mia Wisser
  • Ursula Wevers
  • Eleonora Charans
  • Michel Pencréac’h

Institutions

  • Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI)
  • Tate Gallery
  • Fernseh-Galerie Berlin
  • Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
  • Hamburger Bahnhof
  • Art/Tapes/22
  • Long Beach Museum of Art
  • ASAC (Archives historiques d’art contemporain de la biennale de Venise)
  • University of Udine
  • Centre Pompidou
  • Pinacoteca Civica di Follonica
  • Kunstbibliothek Berlin
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum
  • Nam June Paik Media Arts Center
  • School of Advanced Studies in Venice Foundation
  • Università Cà Foscari

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • Cologne
  • Düsseldorf
  • Amalfi
  • Italy
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Porto Marghera
  • Follonica
  • Grosseto
  • Naples
  • Udine
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Seoul
  • South Korea
  • Miami
  • Tokyo
  • Japan

Sources