BILL VIOLA EXHIBITION

Bill Viola, The Raft, James Cohan gallery, New York. Through December 21, 2024

Bill Viola, The Raft, 2004, color high-definition video projection on wall in a darkened space; 5.1 channels of surround sound, room dimensions: 29 ft 6 in. x 23 ft x 13 ft (9 x 7 x 3.96 m), duration: 10:33 min., video still.

Exposition d'œuvres vidéo de l'artiste novateur Bill Viola (1951-2024), pionnier dans les domaines des nouveaux médias, de la vidéo et de l'installation artistique. Pendant plus de 50 ans, ses univers visionnaires, définis par la vidéo immersive et les paysages sonores, se sont concentrés sur les expériences humaines fondamentales de la naissance, de la mort et du développement de la conscience.

Exhibition of video works by the groundbreaking artist Bill Viola (1951-2024), a pioneer in the fields of new media, video, and installation art. For over 50 years his visionary environments, defined by immersive video and soundscapes, focused on the fundamental human experiences of birth, death, and the unfolding of consciousness.

Mostra di opere video dell'artista rivoluzionario Bill Viola (1951-2024), un pioniere nei campi dei nuovi media, del video e dell'arte installativa. Per oltre 50 anni i suoi ambienti visionari, definiti da video immersivi e paesaggi sonori, si sono concentrati sulle esperienze umane fondamentali della nascita, della morte e dello sviluppo della coscienza.

Bill Viola, The Raft, 2004, color high-definition video projection on wall in a darkened space; 5.1 channels of surround sound, room dimensions: 29 ft 6 in. x 23 ft x 13 ft (9 x 7 x 3.96 m), duration: 10:33 min., video still.

Cette exposition est centrée sur l'installation vidéo The Raft, mai 2004, commandée à l’artiste pour les Jeux olympiques d'Athènes de 2004 et exposée pour la première fois à New York. La vidéo capture au ralenti un groupe de dix-neuf personnages, hommes et femmes d'ethnies et de milieux sociaux différents, soudainement frappés par de puissants jets d'eau provenant des deux côtés du cadre, si violents que certains personnages tombent immédiatement au sol, tandis que d'autres parviennent à peine à rester debout. Aussi soudainement qu'elle était arrivée, l'eau s'arrête, laissant les individus stupéfaits et incrédules, certains soulagés, d'autres mourants.

This exhibition is centred upon Viola’s large-scale video installation, The Raft, May 2004, commissioned for the 2004 Athens Olympics, and exhibited for the first time in New York. The video captures in slow-motion, a group of nineteen characters, men and women from different ethnicities and social backgrounds, suddenly hit by strong jets of water coming from both sides of the frame, so violent that some characters fall to the ground immediately, while others barely manage to remain standing. As suddenly as it had come, the water stops, leaving the individuals stunned and incredulous, some relieved, others dying.

La mostra è incentrata sulla grande installazione video di Viola, The Raft, maggio 2004, commissionata per le Olimpiadi di Atene del 2004 ed esposta per la prima volta a New York. Il video cattura al rallentatore un gruppo di diciannove personaggi, uomini e donne di diverse etnie e background sociali, improvvisamente colpiti da forti getti d'acqua provenienti da entrambi i lati dell'inquadratura, così violenti che alcuni personaggi cadono a terra immediatamente, mentre altri riescono a malapena a rimanere in piedi. All'improvviso come era arrivata, l'acqua si ferma, lasciando gli individui sbalorditi e increduli, alcuni sollevati, altri morenti.