Installation
Art Bill viola is a
contemporary video
artist whose artistic
expression depends
upon electronic, sound and
image technology. He
mainly focuses on
fundamental human ideas such as birth, death and aspects
of unconsciousness. Throughout his career he has taken
inspiration from mystical traditions such
as Zen Buddhism, Christian mysticism and Islamic Sufism which is often evident in
his work.
Below is an image taken from Violas Triptych, the three panels show footage of birth
(on the left), death (on the right) and a metaphorical journey between the two which
is represented by a body floating in the water (in the centre). The original piece of
th
work was shown in a 17 century chapel in the Muse des Beaux Arts in Nantes. I
think the reason it was first commissioned to be shown in a chapel is because of
where Viola got his inspiration, which is renaissance art, therefore placing it in the
chapel acts as a symbol. The footage used was not originally filmed for this piece of
work. The birth was inspired by his sons birth however isnt depicted by it and the
footage was filmed at a natural childbirth clinic in California. The baby is documented
through the course of the labour and is eventually exposed fully. The video of the
baby is used to juxtapose with a video dealing with death. The footage is of his
mother who was on her death bed. The third piece of footage, which is placed in the
middle is of a man helplessly floating in water. The three panels are accompanied by
the sounds of crying, water movement and breathing which is in a 30 minute loop. I
think the technology that he used was so that the audience would be able to get a
feel of all the emotion intended through the image, visuals and sound. The main
focus of his work was not the journey of life but in fact the beginning and the end.
The title of his work Nantes Triptych refers to the style in which it has been
displayed. Triptych is a style which was used in renaissance works and its three
images placed side by side which all contrast. The way in which he films each
section brings the audience up close and personal with the subjects and what they
are experiencing, this is so that the audiences themselves can share the same
emotions as all three aspects are moments that everyone goes through in their life.
All three pieces of footage would bring different emotions to the audience. Especially
the birth and death. The footage of the birth would bring a happy and joyful emotion
as we see a new life being brought into the world. In contrast to the death which
shows an
elderly woman slowly dying. This would bring out an extremely different variety of
emotions. The obvious would be a variety of sad emotions, as the audience sees an
elderly woman slowly lose her battle with cancer. Although, many may have a sense
of joy as she will be seen to be in a better place. The middle picture gives the
audience a realistic idea of what is happening to them right now, it acts as a
metaphor for what is happening in their life right now, as everyone is slowly floating
in-between the two ends of the spectrum. This instillation has a narrative in the form
of life, because life has a clear beginning and end.
The Paradise institute is a piece of work which was originally produced for the
Canadian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, in which Cardiff and Miller wanted to
focus on the overall experience of cinema. The Venice Biennale is one of the most
prestigious cultural institutions in the world. The instillation itself has no narrative
form as its simply just a cinema. The cinema itself is only built for two people. Its
dimly lit and gives the impression you are actually in a cinema with the interior
design. I think the idea of creating the small box is all part of the illusion in thinking
you are in a bigger cinema than you actually are. The illusions used all helps
to play with the fact that you know you
are in a small box however you feel as if
you are in a real size cinema.
The view given to the audience is as if
they are sat at the balcony of the cinema
looking over the rest of the crowd which is
an illusion created by Cardiff and Miller
used to make the cinema appear much
larger than it
actually is. Once they put the headphones on the production starts, they are
introduced with visual aspect which is the film they are supposed to be watching,
however they also get the real audience experience as they are introduced to
sounds coming from all around them which replicate a real cinema. One of the main
things they aimed to do was create an atmosphere using sound. The sounds they
used give the impression that they are actually sat in the cinema and everything they
can hear is going on around them. The film they are watching on the small screen is
about
murder whilst they are simultaneously hearing a murder happening around them.
Due to these sounds the audiences become immersed in the production. I think the
aim they had was for the audience to realise just how much can go on around people
without realising. Which is why two stories have been combined.
Susan hillers Channels is a large audio
sculpture made out of loads of televisions. Her
artwork focuses on near-death experiences and
death itself. The artwork features 104 TV
screens which are programmed with visuals of
different shades of the colour blue, which in TV
terms is known as the stand-by screen, which is
accompanied by voices belonging to people who
have all had near-death
experiences. The overall look and atmosphere of the instillation is amazing,
especially with the shades of blue setting a dark mood for the instillation.
The different shades of blue give a somewhat relaxing feel enabling the audience to
become fully emerged in what they are listening to. The technology used relates to
the stories and especially the topic that its all about. The TVs on standby show no
life to them except the light glow of the blue which fills the whole room. This gives the
overall feeling of the room a sense of lifeless meaning, which is what a lot of the
stories are about. From the audiences point of view the dim lit room and muffling
sounds of forgotten stories gives an overall eerie feel to the instillation as a whole.
Susan Hiller wanted to create a mood where the audience can just sit and listen to
the stories that are being spoken about, which is why she went for a fairly simple
idea. I think the mood along with the stories being spoken about gives a chilling feel
to what is being heard.
After looking at these three instillations I have taken inspiration for mine to create a
small cinema like box which only seats one person. The box will be blacked out and
will have one light, with a stool and TV screen. I wanted to make it like this so that I
can focus the viewers attentions primarily to the screen so they can take in
everything they are watching. From the instillations above I have learned that
keeping it small and simple works with keeping the viewer intrigued.