YEAR 11 ART THEORY TASK
YEAR 11 ART THEORY TASK

BY BRODIE O’BRIEN

BILL VIOLA- WORK METHODS * Bill Viola has been a discoverer in the use of video and moving images since early in the 70’s, Viola uses state-of-the-art electronic technology and his multimedia installations explore the phenomenon of sense perception. * Viola uses the basics of art making and transforms them to fit his medium (video making). Sometimes he uses more than one screen, playing either simultaneous images of different images but of the same theme in one project, Viola strives for technical perfection in his chosen medium in the same a painter tries to be perfect in a painting. * Viola creates an aesthetic experience just like a painting does by manipulating the focus and sensual colour in his videos. (e.g. “reflecting paradise”) * Frames are slowed down to a point as were the viewer feels connected and drawn into the artwork, his images are left on the screen long enough to disturb and challenge the viewer, the sounds accompanying the images become more apparent to the viewer the longer the artwork continues by becoming deeper, louder or even changing the pitch at a rapid point so the viewer notices. (e.g. “the crossing” 1996) * The artwork doesn’t just simply “begin”, people fade in, out, dissolve and come into focus of the camera, mainly in the centre of the frame so they are portrayed as the main object in the frame. (e.g. ”the fall into paradise” 2005) THEMES THEY EXPLORE * His works focus on the ideas behind fundamental human experiences such as birth, death and aspects of consciousness. SIGNS AND SYMBOLS THEY USE * Viola embodies the world through symbols, ideas, and spiritual phenomena * His main symbols are the earth’s natural elements (fire and water), and he also uses random everyday images such as chairs, and buckets. * He uses simple actions, such as crying, laughing, expressions of happiness and sadness, these are really important to the drama in his artworks. * Viola draws out the viewer’s imagination, memory, dreams, and their inner beings. * He shows us reality in a way that we re-evaluate our on concept of reality.

THE MEDIA THEY WORK WITH * Viola works with video installations, moving images sound and emotion. THE STYLE THAT MEDIA EXPRESSES * A sequence of time that he manipulates to the viewer. * Expresses emotion from the viewers from the emotions used in the work. * Strong use of postmodernism, he broke the rules and subverted conventions of originality. WHERE THEIR INSPRATION COMES FROM * Aspect of spirituality in his work. * He seeks to draw connections from our inner and outer lives. * Uses, textures, colour, depth and tone to create a setting and a mood to his work. * Influenced by: Alberto Giacometti, Joseph Beuys, Mark Rothko THEIR BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, PERSONAL HISTORY * Viola grew up in Queens, New York, and Westbury, New York. He attended P.S. 20 Clinton Hill School, in Flushing, where he was captain of the TV Squad * In 1973, Viola graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts * On vacation in the mountains with his family, he nearly drowned in a lake, an experience he describes as “… the most beautiful world I’ve ever seen in my life” and “without fear,” and “peaceful”.

SHAUN GLADWELL- WORK METHODS * Gladwell is a digital artist, who skilfully combines past and present in a street manner * Painting * Sculpture THEMES THEY EXPLORE * His work focused on time, seems like it will never end. * Appears he’s “playing” with gravity by turning the camera upside-down *