Bill Viola
Bill Viola is a contemporary video artist. He was born in 25 January, 1951 in Queens, New York, USA. He graduated from Syracuse University with Bachelor in Fine Arts. His works can be categorize in the field of
- Video Art
- Electronic Art
- New Media Art.
His concept focuses mainly on ideas behind fundamental human experiences such as birth, death, and aspects of consciousness. His works caught my attention instantly. The procedure in which he captures a period of time when an actor passes through a medium affect on me was very erotic.
The Reflecting Pool
This video of Bill Viola shows himself walking out of the forest and stands infront of the artificial pool. He approaches the edge of the pool then squats to make a powerful jump into the pool. But when he leaps above the pool, his body freezes mid-air above the surface of the water. His silhouette dissolves gradually into the forest background. Then his reflection of him standing still appears on the water surface. The Reflecting Pool represents a baptism, a person rebirth as reflected by the water. His statement was that "it is not ultimately possible for the human being to differentiate between reality and illusion; rather, our true identity is only perceivable when it is reflected in the world".
The Ascension, 2000
This title of the video itself tells it all. The video film by Bill Viola shows a action of the rise to heaven, after death. The actor simply sinks himself into the body of water which symbolizes the feeling of letting go of everything, or the end of everything (death). After a certain period of time, the actor rises to the surface of the water. This was the part which expresses the act of ascension. This video by the artist was both meaningful and erotic. The performance of the actor emphasizes what the artist is trying to tell through his installation.
The Quintet of the Astonished, 2000
This video was mainly to capture the emotions and actions of the five performer. This video was actually a series of related videos called the Quintet Series, which captures emotions and actions of the performer within varieties of circumstances. It is amazing how the artist himself captures every bits of details thorough a slow-motion video. In my opinion, the eroticism of this video lies beneath the expression of each performer. The facial expressions and moving bodies of the performers tells what kind of medium they are touching or experiencing.
El Anatsui
El Anatsui, a Ghanaian sculptor, was born in 1944. He spend most of his active career in Nigeria. He trained at the College of Art, University of Science and Technology, in Kumasi, in central Ghana. Anatsui preferred media are clay and wood, however he tends to appreciate other materials if it proves to be more meaningful or suits better with his installation. He experiments with variety of media which includes
- Wood
- Ceramics
- Clays
- Paint
- Metal sheets
- Recycle materials / containers
I appreciate his installation by two reasons. One is that the surfaces of his artworks makes me tempting to touch and feel the surface. The second reason, and the important one, is that his artworks are very powerful when it comes to meanings. From every details from the materials he uses to his intention toward the audience. His idea focus mainly on speaking against today's decaying society and African traditions.
The Skin of Earth, 2006
This art piece was construct entirely of aluminum and copper wire. The aluminum sheets were used aluminum bottle lids. His intention upon the project was to reflect the original objects. The artist was showing that these aluminum lids can be reused not only by recycling it, but it can also be used as an art or for other purpose.
Adinkra Sasa, 2003
This installation, made up of aluminum, copper wire, and fabric, expresses a very strong message toward the audience. Adinkra is a piece of cloth which is use in Ghanaian traditional funeral. He polished the piece with black shinny color giving it an expensive look. The message behind is the sorrows in the conquer of European colonial powers in the Africa. The valuable black cloth symbolizes the European colonials, while applying the cloth with funeral Adinkra to remind of the Africans who died.
The Crumbling Wall, 2000
This installation was the one which touches me the most. The art piece was constructed entirely with steel sheets. The steel plates are used in preparation of traditional African's Gari. By rusting the steel plates and decaying it, the artist message was giving very strongly towards the African society. His installation statement was against the destruction and corruption in the African politics. The plates symbolizes the decay of African traditions which were done by the cruel politicians.
Inspirations from the artists
The two artist I chose have two things in common. Both of their works are very meaningful and touchy. Viola's meaning within his videos are telling about the truth of life. What every human being needs to go through. He emphasize the action with a medium and filming his performer or himself move through it and touching the medium, expressing a very meaningful visual. Anatsui also works with giving meaning and giving touchy texture to his installation using varieties of materials. The materials itself symbolizes statement that the artist himself is making to the audiences.
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