http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2006/07/18/bill-viola/ "Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane." - Philip K Dick Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:32:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2006/07/18/bill-viola/comment-page-1/#comment-52 suzy Tue, 18 Jul 2006 09:55:10 +0000 http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2006/07/18/bill-viola/#comment-52 Bill Viola is not only a fantastic videomaker, but also a brilliant Fine artist. I think it would be difficult to find a young contemporary artist who could match the beauty seen in this exhibition. The videos are powerful but ethereal at the same time - the human figures often float and move elegantly, whether it be under water or through a heat haze. The pace of the films is also crucial to their effect; everything is revealed slowly. Viola takes his time to gently reveal what is truly happening, keeping the viewer hooked right up until the moment when all your expectations are blown away - e.g. in one particular video, 'The Fall into Paradise' you assume that you are viewing an intertwined couple from above - that is until they crash violently through the water towards the camera and you realise you have been tricked. Bill Viola's manipulations are key to creating thoughtful artwork and trying to stimulate the audience into questioning what they see on film. Fine artists nowadays often rely on shock tactics to trigger a reaction from the viewer - this shock is often short lived and will not help their work in the long run. Instead, they should definitely examine how Viola manages to capture the audience's attention, as he uses his sophisticated videos to hypnotise whoever sees them. Bill Viola is not only a fantastic videomaker, but also a brilliant Fine artist. I think it would be difficult to find a young contemporary artist who could match the beauty seen in this exhibition.
The videos are powerful but ethereal at the same time – the human figures often float and move elegantly, whether it be under water or through a heat haze. The pace of the films is also crucial to their effect; everything is revealed slowly. Viola takes his time to gently reveal what is truly happening, keeping the viewer hooked right up until the moment when all your expectations are blown away – e.g. in one particular video, ‘The Fall into Paradise’ you assume that you are viewing an intertwined couple from above – that is until they crash violently through the water towards the camera and you realise you have been tricked. Bill Viola’s manipulations are key to creating thoughtful artwork and trying to stimulate the audience into questioning what they see on film. Fine artists nowadays often rely on shock tactics to trigger a reaction from the viewer – this shock is often short lived and will not help their work in the long run. Instead, they should definitely examine how Viola manages to capture the audience’s attention, as he uses his sophisticated videos to hypnotise whoever sees them.

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