Internationally known US video artist Bill Viola, aged 73, passed away
Viola became known for his striking video installation works, which often dealt with intense feelings and experiences such as birth and death. His "decade-long engagement" in video art was deemed "crucial in the establishment of the medium as an integral part of contemporary art" by the international art magazine "ArtNews" on X. Art critic Brian Kelly wrote on X that Viola was "an alchemist of the moving image".
Born in New York, Viola initially studied art at Syracuse University in the state of New York, where he encountered Video Artists like Peter Campus and Nam June Paik. In the 1970s, he was part of an Avant-garde Art Group in Florence, Italy.
In 1975, Viola met the Art Director Kira Perov. The two married and embarked on joint journeys to Canada, Tunisia, Tibet, and Japan. During these travels, they filmed extensively, explored video editing techniques, and delved into Zen Buddhism. Throughout his five decades long career, Viola achieved international recognition.
- The Los Angeles Times featured an article on Bill Viola, highlighting his significant contributions to US-Video art and his recognition as a prominent International artist.
- Bill Viola's works, showcased at the Long Beach Museum of Art, resonated strongly with audience members, evoking intense emotions related to birth and death.
- In his decade-long engagement with Video art, Bill, the US-Video artist, collaborated with his wife Kira Perov, exploring various global locations like Canada, Tunisia, and Japan.
- Tod Papageorgiou, a renowned curator, included Bill Viola's video installation 'Violet' in the International Center of Photography's exhibition, showcasing the artist's influence on the global art scene.
- After several years of promoting and supporting local artists, the Long Beach Museum of Art honored Bill Viola with a retrospective exhibition, celebrating his 73-year artistic journey and his prowess as a leading US-Video artist.
