In this report I shall attempt to understand the potential of video in an exhibition space as an art form. To do this I shall firstly cover what a video installation is then give a brief history of the form. Them I shall analyse two different video installation artists to enable me to answer the main objective of this report. Also, furthering my knowledge will help me make my own installation better.
Video installation is a contemporary art form that combines video technology with installation art, making use of all aspects of the surrounding environment to affect the audience.
Artist: Tony Oursler
Tony Oursler is an American artist since the mid -1970’s. He is known for his video installation work that leaves a big effect on the human mind. His works always consists of sound, dark room environments, and language that is mixed with colourful constructed sculptural elements that make his videos seem unusual but also very effective and unique. Majority of his mesmerising installation works are dark/dull room environments with sound, video and language mixed with colourful constructed sculptural elements. He also does photography and collects images such as photographs (mainly), objects and books. His recent media installation work that consists of theatrical objects for example dolls or puppets that are covered with video productions and spoken texts, he has been producing video installations for the past twenty years.
He has exhibited widely around the world including Tate Liverpool, Centre Pompidou in Paris, The museum of contemporary art etc. His installation ‘The darkest colour infinitely amplified’ was presented at the Tate Modern and the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2000. His work was also shown at the 54th Venice Biennale in Glasstress. The target audience is teenagers/adults both female and male, however his work would be for people that are very interested in art.
Here is an example of one of his video installation work:
This is called The Influence Machine which is staged outdoors, it consists of seven video projections which all include their own audio track. This was made in 2000 and it was first shown in New York’s Madison Square Park and London’s Soho Square.
Artist: Bill Viola
Bill Viola was born in 1951, he is a contemporary video artist whose work always depends on sound, image technology and electronics. He focuses mainly on the idea behind the usual/normal human experiences that everyone can go through such as death, birth and the aspect of consciousness.
Majority of his work has themes that can be shown as life and death, being stressed or calm, light and dark or loud and quiet. He work can come across as unique as he has meaning and inspiration from his own deep interest in life and mystical traditions. His work can be split into three different types; visual, conceptual and an original combination of the two.
His work exhibits a painterly quality, the use of slow motion videos which engages the audience to sink into the image and to connect to the actual meaning to the work. This is what makes his work unique but also unusually accessible within a contemporary art context.
Here is an example of his work:
This video is shown as resurrection or what life is after death in his own way.
What I have learnt from writing this report is that I now have a better understanding of what video installation is as I have been researching in order to write about these artists. I also learnt a lot about the artists and how different their work is, this will benefit me when I do my own video installation as it has given me ideas to do my own.
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