Bill Viola

Biography

A pioneer in the medium of video art, Bill Viola's work explores the spiritual and perceptual side of human experience. Since 1970 he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances and pieces for television. Works include Hatsu Yume (First Dream), The Passing, and installations Room for St. John of the Cross, The Messenger and The Quintet of the Astonished, recently shown at the National Gallery, London in "Encounters, New Art from Old". A 25-year survey exhibition of his work organized by The Whitney Museum of American Art recently traveled to 6 institutions in the USA and Europe. MacArthur Fellow.

Known For

Acting

2002

The Voyage

as

Gatekeeper

1983

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

as

1975

Return

as

1986

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

as

Himself

2003

Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart

as

Self

1979

The Reflecting Pool

as

Performer

2017

Bill Viola: The Road to St. Paul's

as

Self

2013

What Is Cinema?

as

Self

2002

Going Forth By Day

as

(segment "The Voyage")

Production

1986

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

as

1981

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

as

Crew

1986

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

as

1979

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

as

2002

Going Forth By Day

as

Directing

1990

The Stopping Mind

as

1992

The Passing

as

1986

Silent Life

as

1979

Moonblood

as

1980

Vegetable Memory

as

1992

Slowly Turning Narrative

as

1977

Memories Of Ancestral Power

as

1981

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

as

1983

Anthem

as

1995

The Veiling

as

1982

Ancient of Days

as

1979

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

as

1986

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

as

1992

The Nantes Triptych

as

1995

The Greeting

as

1979

The Reflecting Pool

as

1976

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

as

2005

Fire Woman

as

1983

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

as

1976

Truth Through Mass Individuation

as

1976

The Space Between the Teeth

as

2011

A Phrase from Chris

as

1986

Sodium Vapor

as

1976

Four Songs

as

1976

Junkyard Levitation

as

1976

Songs of Innocence

as

1975

A Non-Dairy Creamer

as

1975

Playing Soul Music to My Freckles

as

1975

A Million Other Things (2)

as

1975

Red Tape: Collected Works

as

1975

Return

as

1975

The Semi-Circular Canals

as

1994

Déserts

as

1992

Heaven and Earth

as

2014

Inverted Birth

as

2002

Going Forth By Day

as

2001

Surrender

as

2013

Man Searching for Immortality/Woman Searching for Eternity

as

2008

Three Women

as

2013

The Dreamers

as

2004

The Tristan Project

as

2002

Fire Birth

as

2002

The Path

as

1996

The Crossing

as

1977

The Wheel of Becoming

as

1989

Angel's Gate

as

1977

The Morning After the Night of Power

as

1977

Memory Surfaces and Mental Prayers

as

1977

Sweet Light

as

2004

The Raft

as

2014

Martyrs

as

1977

He Weeps for You

as

2007

Ocean Without a Shore

as

2000

Eternal Return

as

2016

Mary

as

2002

The Voyage

as

2018

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

as

2000

Ascension

as

2005

Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)

as

2003

Emergence

as

2012

The Encounter

as

1984

Reverse Television - Portraits of Viewers

as

1979

Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier 1979

as

1992

The Sleepers

as

The Crossing

as

1973

Information

as

2005

Ablutions

as

2000

Anima

as

2012

Walking on the Edge

as

2014

Martyrs: Water

as

2014

Martyrs: Earth

as

2005

Basin of Tears

as

2014

Martyrs: Air

as

2000

The Quintet of the Astonished

as

2008

The Innocents

as

2014

Martyrs: Fire

as

2001

Catherine's Room

as

2001

Four Hands

as

2012

Traveling on Foot

as

1995

Interval

as

2006

Poem B (The Guest House)

as