Instill

ation
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 work was shown in a 17 th
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.