Bill Viola

Bill Viola
Viola was born 25th January, 1951(aged 65)and is a American video artist and contemporary video artist whose artistic expression depends upon electronic, sound, and image technology in New Media. He is the main voice in the establishment of video as a virtual form of contemporary art. Bills work includes videotapes, architectural video installations and total environments that include video and sound. The video work has expanded over the years through technology, content and historical terms. As a student he was involved with video and electronic media and since 1970, Violas video art has been seen all over the world.

Dreamers

Bill Violas work focuses on human experiences, cultures and religion because his video communicate to a wide audience and allows them to experience the work directly in a personal way. He has extended his work to Eastern and Western cultures and he has studied cultures such as Zen Buddhism in Japan and fire-walking ritual among Hindu communities. The themes of spirituality has been presented through human condition and in an abstract presentation.

The Dreamers is an environment piece that contains a series of seven plasma screens which includes individuals of different ages who are underwater. The individuals are lying still with their eyes shut, with a sound of the water filling the room. A calming appearance is given to the visitor as the individuals appear to be at peace.

blood



water and fire

Bill Viola believes that young people are in an “interesting place right now” and they are “talking about something inside themselves that they understand because of the digital age and the use of their IPad and IPod”. Over the years, Bill has expanded the use of technology and his team are always updating digitally as modern technology is increasing faster. In Bill Violas early work, he worked with one medium and produced videos and sound through portable video cameras that focused him as the subject. Today he hires commissioned actors and uses digital flat-panel plasma screens that produces bright 35mmm film at 210 frames per second. Bill edits colour and adjusts videos

Recently, at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the Underground Gallery was transformed into a dark maze to present the work of Bill Viola. The audience experienced the controlled environment of image and sound that related to the pieces such as water droplets. The exhibition was based on the themes of life, death, love and spirituality. It was such a great piece of work to witness, I had a quick glance round the gallery and it was so fascinating to see repeating movement and sound create so much emotion.