BILL VIOLARhyan M, Steve V, Tim M

OVERVIEWWho is BILL VIOLA?What does he do?What are his RELEVANT WORKS?

Why does he do this work?Why is he RELEVANT?

Who is BILL VIOLA?born January 25, 1951grew up in Queens, New YorkAlmost drowned as a child

described experience as without fear, and peacefulreceived his BFA in Experimental Studios from

Syracuse University in 1973 where he studied visual art and electronic music

From 1974-1976, Viola worked as technical director at Art/Tapes/22, a pioneering video studio in Florence, Italy where he encountered video artists Nam June Paik, Bruce Nauman, and Vito Acconci

continued2004, Viola began work on a new production

of Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde Has worked as an artist in residence in Japan

making work and learning about zen buddhism

WHAT DOES HE DO?He makes video art

Video installationsViola relies little on computer editing.

use of extreme slow motionVariety of shapes and sizes of screensPerforms electronic and avant garde music

RELEVANT WORKThe Quintet Series – 2000

Slow motion changing of expressions on faces

Observance – 2002 response to 9/11, gazes in to a camera with grief

The Tristan Project – 2004 Video sequences during performance of Wagner's opera

The Night Journey – 2005 Art game where player explores in the dark

An Ocean Without a Shore – 2007 Bodies as waterfalls, life and death through water

WHY DOES HE DO THIS WORKDraws meaning and inspiration from his deep interest

in mystical traditions, especially Zen Buddhism, Christian mysticism and Islamic Sufism, often evident in the transcendental quality of some of his works.

The subject matter and manner of western medieval and renaissance devotional art have informed his aesthetic

A theme that he constantly explores is dualism, the idea that you can't understand what you're looking at unless you know its opposite.life and death, light and dark, stressed and calm, loud and

quiet, etcWater as a source of rebirth

WHY IS HE RELEVANT?Took video art in to the contemporary sceneHe’s heavily influenced by nam june paik, vito

acconci, and richard wagnerHe exemplifies what new media is