In 1965, artist Nam June Paik (1932-2006) attached a strong magnet to the top of a television. The crisp image, overpowered by the magnet, folded onto itself in beautiful geometric waves. But it wasn't meant to be beautiful; it was an attack.
"Television has been attacking us all our lives, now we can attack it back," Paik said of his actions.
At the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival, which runs till Feb. 16 at Tokyo's National Art Center, there's an absence of Paik's critical attitude toward technology. Instead, as jury member Shiro Takatani points out, technology is being used to let us "see things never seen before." The designers, artists and programmers featured here are using it to expand perceptions and reveal the hidden dimensions of the world around us.