Bill Viola

While Bill Viola was in Los Angeles preparing for the transfer of his Passion exhibition to the National Gallery in London, Mel Cooper spoke with him. Here is a transcript of Bill Viola's thoughts about his work.

M.C. When and how did you decide to dedicate yourself to video art?

A Tribute to Bill Viola for Clarinet and String Quartet

Notes by Isidora Žebeljan

At the world premiere of Song of a Traveller in the Night, performed at the National Gallery in London on 23 October 2003, the composer was present. She had worked with her five musicians to finalize the piece. Before the piece was played, she was asked to address the audience of about 150 people who had gathered for this event. The text of what she said follows:

The Genesis Foundation will enter the visual arts for the first time in October when it supports an installation by the American video artist, Bill Viola at London's National Gallery. Inspired by early masterpieces that depict powerful emotions and called The Passions, the show was seen in a slightly different form at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles earlier this year.

First ever Genesis Foundation project in the visual arts

The pieces that make up The Passions are displayed on digital flat panel screens that not only give a bright, sharp picture but are portable and can be exhibited in a normal gallery setting rather like the small devotional paintings whose format Viola wants to echo.