Bill is an accomplished artist and is considered a significant contributor in establishing video as a form of contemporary art. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Experimental Studios from Syracuse University in 1973; also, he studied electronic music and visual arts there, too. Mr. Viola has an extensive background of traveling from Florence, Italy to Solomon Islands, Java, Bali, Japan and the Sahara desert. For example, he has studied and captured images of mirages in Sahara desert, studied animal consciousness at the San Diego Zoo, learned about medical imaging technologies of the human body, and observed fire walking rituals among the Hindu communities of Fiji. He also studied Buddhism in Japan for eighteen months. Additionally, he has many collections of taping and photographing nocturnal desert landscapes,for example nature shows, for television with the help of his wife, Kira Perov a photographer. His combined education and diversified experiences have shaped and guided his career.
Bill's works focus on universal human experiences such as birth ,death and also the paths of our unconsciousness. The works are influenced by eastern and western spiritualism and art. Understanding the realization of the mind, wisdom, tranquility and the enlightenment itself of one's self has shaped his artistic expression in his video installations. He also occasionally works for musical performance artists by designing a visual background that emphasizes a focal point in a performance. Water and subdued colors are a focal point in a particular video for the musical entertaining group, Nine Inch Nails.
Bill emphasizes a state of mind or emotion in his works. I noticed after viewing many of his pieces there exist a range of expressive emotions translating anguish, loneliness, and unhappiness. I have not viewed yet happiness or any sense of contentment.
Water seems to be the focus of cleansing his subjects of life's impurities or maybe this is suppose to emulate being born only .After viewing many of his video installations and reading about his history I can see more clearly how he is influenced by Zen and Christian mysticism. Moreover, the intense emotion translated to the viewer is very powerful. What I see is a storm unfolding. When I look at some of his installations I can definitely identify the anguish oozing from the person. It is more than birth and death, it is the experience of life itself. Maybe just the fact of existing is difficult-however, the eternal pursuit and desire to communicate and connect with another being is a strong driving force. People yearn for a human connection.
I chose the video above because it covered a range of of Bill Viola's work that was displayed at a gallery.
