HUA Assignment #8

Dilchand Nauth

Professor Harmon

Assignment #8

Bill Viola/His Videos

Bill Viola was born on January 25^th, 1951. In today’s world he is globally recognized for his videotapes, architectural video installations, television broadcasts, electronic music performances and flat panel video pieces. Bill Viola has converted video into a vital form of contemporary art; by doing this he had expanded its scope in terms of historical reach and content. Famous for his video installations, he is able to capture his viewers into a world dominated by sound and image. His videos are simplistic and very precise, incorporating the latest advances in art technologies. Viola uses video as a way of exploring sense perception as a link to self-knowledge. Most of his works focuses on natural human experiences, whether it be birth, death or the mysteries of the conscious mind. His videos communicate to a wide variety of audiences, where viewers uniquely connect to what they are experiencing. Today, his videotapes are broadcast worldwide and presented cinematically.

One of Viola’s contemporary digital pieces include “The Reflecting Pool”. In this piece, we can see Bill Viola emerging from an extremely dense forest where he happens upon a pool. As time passes, the noise of an airplane passes and fades; during this occurrence, Viola approaches the edge of the pool. He continues on to remove his shoes, where he squats, yells and progresses to jump into the water. Oddly, as he leaps his entire body freezes in mid-air above the surface of water. The water reacts as it would when dropping a rock into it; it continues to ripple. Towards the end of the video, water drips from the figure who then dissolves into the colors of the background (forest).

As human beings, it is not entirely possible for us to tell the difference between what is an illusion and what is reality. Who we are and what we stand for is only identified and perceived when it is visible (reflected) in the real world. “The Reflecting Pool” symbolizes an individual’s rebirth (as reflected by the water). The frozen figure disappears from mid-air, reappearing as a shadow in the pool, hence re-emerging ready to jump again. From this, it is depicted that this symbolizes the cycle of life and the changes that we experience in our everyday lives.  

Another one of Bill Viola’s contemporary digital pieces include “The Emergence”. In this piece, two women are sitting either side of a water tank. As they wait, time becomes suspended and indeterminate; the exact purpose of their actions are unknown to the viewer. Suddenly, the calm, collected scenario is interrupted as the younger women turns in disbelief, as a young, pale man emerges from the water; spilling the water over the sides of the cistern onto the floor. The overflowing water disturbs the attention of the older women, as she turns to witness the ongoing situation. The younger women grasps the left arm of the man, perhaps symbolizing the return of a lost lover, whilst the older women stands up, intrigued by the young man’s presence. As the young man finally reaches max emergence, he collapses. The older woman catches him in her arms, as both the younger woman and older women gently lift him onto the floor. Appearing lifeless, he is covered by a cloth. The older women breaks down into tears, as the younger women embraces his body.

It is difficult to comprehend at first, but “The Emergence” is a video resembling a painting. It is related to a painting because it is silent and frame. The narration occurs in extreme slow motion. The man emerging from the water symbolizes birth; perhaps the birth of a new child. His collapse towards the end of the video symbolizes death; eventually that child will experiencing the end of his life. The video symbolizes the reality that every human being will experience some point in their life. Every human is born, fulfills his or her purpose on Earth and then dies.

As a growing individual, Bill Viola had developed an interest in moving forward; exploring the future. He neglected past events in the world and wanted to look to the future for new inspirations. The tragic death of his mother, give him an experience of fright and shock. It was extremely disturbing to him, as experiences such as these made him acknowledge the significance of life. Perhaps inspired to represent experiences of life, death and the conscious mind, Bill Viola is a video artist who is trying to connect several different worlds. Whether it be birth and death, or old art and new art, there is always a connection that can be made.