Art Madrid'25 – BIll Viola video art floods the Guggenheim

 

 

 

Going Forth By Day, 2002. “The Deluge” 

 

 

Bill Viola (New York, 1951) was graduated from Syracuse University in 1973. He has been an essential figure in the field of contemporary video art. He has created installations, video/films, sound environments, flat panel video pieces and works for concerts, opera and sacred spaces. Influenced by classical painting and by both Eastern and Western culture (Zen Buddhism and Christian mysticism), he works on universal human themes such as time, life and death and passions. Through them he tries to describe our experience in the world.

 

 

Catherine’s Room, 2001

 

 

Viola’s artistic career has been developed at the same time of media technologies. He has worked closely with Kira Perov, his wife and collaborator. Within his first videos, we find `The reflecting pool´, that describes the emergence of the individual into the natural world; or `Four Songs´, which presents musical narratives that explore the psychological/emotional dynamics of the individual. In the 80´s, he made projects for broadcast television. Afterwards, he developed whole room installations that immerse the viewer in images and sound. During 90´s, he introduced sculptural objects, like his huge rotating screen from his `Slowly Turning Narrative´, of 1992. In this piece, the room and all persons within it become a continually shifting projection screen, enclosing the image and its reflections, and all locked into the regular cadence of the chanting voice and the rotating screen.

 

 

Surrender, 2001

 


With the arrival of the high-definition flat screens, Viola began to produce small and medium-format pieces in a series he titled the `Passions´. Among them, we can find `Catherine’s Room´, 2001, a view into the privacy of a solitary woman who goes about a series of daily rituals. Last decade pieces still reflect his existential thinking. His last creation is ´Inverted birth’, that talk about birth and death through darkness and light and using fluids that symbolize the essence of life (earth, blood, milk, water and air).

 

 

Tristan’s Ascension, 2005

 

 

Bill Viola´s videos, in slow motion make the spectator escape from agitated life. his from his Workshops and talks. Visitor will be able to contemplate VIola´s video-art in Guggenheim rooms until the 9th of November. Besides, exits the opportunity of attending workshops or talks in parallel.

 

 

Inverted Birth, 2014

 

 

Relive the Art Madrid’25 experience from anywhere, anytime, with our 360º Virtual Tour. Explore the fair as if you were there, navigating each space and discovering every artwork in detail.


Aerial View of Art Madrid'25. Photo by Lucas Amillano.


This year, we’ve taken the experience of Art Madrid’25 to the next level, allowing you to explore the fair from anywhere in the world. Walk through the exhibition spaces, get closer to the most fascinating pieces, and admire the impressive glass dome that bathes the entire venue in natural light. If there was any artwork you couldn’t fully appreciate or if you simply want to relive the fair’s atmosphere, now’s your chance.

Thanks to our collaboration with Coke Riera Studio and Panotour technology, we’ve captured the essence of Art Madrid’25 in an immersive tour with the highest quality and detail. Over 4,000 photographs taken from strategic points make up this interactive experience, bringing you closer to the art in an unparalleled way.

We’re thrilled to share this unique way of enjoying and revisiting contemporary art. The best part is that you can TRY IT and SHARE IT with anyone you wish! Don’t miss the chance to explore Art Madrid’25 in its full expression, whenever and wherever you choose.