Bill viola By: Mackenzye Smith
Bill viola
Background Born and raised in New YorkBorn and raised in New York Nearly drowned and described it as “the most beautiful world I’ve ever seen in my life”Nearly drowned and described it as “the most beautiful world I’ve ever seen in my life” Attended Syracuse UniversityAttended Syracuse University Known for his creation of videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances, flat panel video pieces, and television broadcastsKnown for his creation of videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances, flat panel video pieces, and television broadcasts Main focus on universal human experienceMain focus on universal human experience
The crossing
The Crossing Date: 1996Date: 1996 Content: one side- depicts a man being engulfed by flames and then disappears; other side- shows a man hidden behind water and then disappears; shows Viola’s fascination with water (stems from his near drowning incident)Content: one side- depicts a man being engulfed by flames and then disappears; other side- shows a man hidden behind water and then disappears; shows Viola’s fascination with water (stems from his near drowning incident) Patron: co-commissioned by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GeorgiaPatron: co-commissioned by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia Media: video/sound installation; shown on a large screen which displays a motion picture on both sides simultaneouslyMedia: video/sound installation; shown on a large screen which displays a motion picture on both sides simultaneously
The crossing Style: clothes- modern day clothing; abstract and expressive interpretation; symbol- water acts as “reflection of the outer world and acts as barrier to the other world”Style: clothes- modern day clothing; abstract and expressive interpretation; symbol- water acts as “reflection of the outer world and acts as barrier to the other world” Formal Elements: light- illumination of the body; focus drawn away from the face; balance- symmetrical body; balance presented through opposite concepts (fire vs. water); color- solid back background used to focus attention to the figure; texture- attention to detail of the fire and waterFormal Elements: light- illumination of the body; focus drawn away from the face; balance- symmetrical body; balance presented through opposite concepts (fire vs. water); color- solid back background used to focus attention to the figure; texture- attention to detail of the fire and water Meaning: Viola claims the idea stems from his unconscious; surfaces the question of whether the man dies or if he travels from catching on fire to being extinguished by the waterMeaning: Viola claims the idea stems from his unconscious; surfaces the question of whether the man dies or if he travels from catching on fire to being extinguished by the water
He weeps for you
Date: 1976Date: 1976 Content: Eastern religion influence; continues his fascination with water; idea stemmed from cleaning his glasses and noticing that he could see through the raindrops that had collectedContent: Eastern religion influence; continues his fascination with water; idea stemmed from cleaning his glasses and noticing that he could see through the raindrops that had collected Media: video installation; shown at Documenta 6 in KasselMedia: video installation; shown at Documenta 6 in Kassel Style: abstract and expressive; video camera magnifies the brass valve; shows both close-up and distant perspectives; drop falls to the drum creating a loud resonant soundStyle: abstract and expressive; video camera magnifies the brass valve; shows both close-up and distant perspectives; drop falls to the drum creating a loud resonant sound
He weeps for you Formal Elements: dramatic emphasis; shown from different angles; color- black room with a color screen; attention drawn to the brass valveFormal Elements: dramatic emphasis; shown from different angles; color- black room with a color screen; attention drawn to the brass valve Meaning: representation of human transience and mortality; life is a repetitive cycleMeaning: representation of human transience and mortality; life is a repetitive cycle htmlhttp:// html
Angel’s Gate
Date: 1989Date: 1989 Content: does not refrain from displeasing images (woman giving birth, animal carcass, etc); fixates upon existence, experience, memory, and timeContent: does not refrain from displeasing images (woman giving birth, animal carcass, etc); fixates upon existence, experience, memory, and time Patron: Commission by Television Español for the El Arte Del Video seriesPatron: Commission by Television Español for the El Arte Del Video series Media: video installationMedia: video installation Style: image sequences (a candle being extinguished, fruit falling from a tree, family getting their picture taken, etc); long, slow fades to blackStyle: image sequences (a candle being extinguished, fruit falling from a tree, family getting their picture taken, etc); long, slow fades to black
Angel’s Gate Formal Elements: light- draws the viewer from the dark tunnel towards the illuminated gate (tunnel scene); filmed from various anglesFormal Elements: light- draws the viewer from the dark tunnel towards the illuminated gate (tunnel scene); filmed from various angles Meaning: shows the creation and decay of all things; focus on mortalityMeaning: shows the creation and decay of all things; focus on mortality