Bill Viola

Bill Viola

Directing

January 25, 1951Queens, New York, USA

A pioneer in the medium of video art, Bill Viola's work explores the spiritual and perceptual side of human experience. Since 1970 he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances and pieces for television. Works include Hatsu Yume (First Dream), The Passing, and installations Room for St. John of the Cross, The Messenger and The Quintet of the Astonished, recently shown at the National Gallery, London in "Encounters, New Art from Old". A 25-year survey exhibition of his work organized by The Whitney Museum of American Art recently traveled to 6 institutions in the USA and Europe. MacArthur Fellow.

Known for

What Is Cinema?

What Is Cinema?

2013

The Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool

1979

The Passing

The Passing

1992

Ancient of Days

Ancient of Days

1982

Anthem

Anthem

1983

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

1986

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

1979

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart

Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart

2003

Directing82

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

2018

Director

Mary

2016

Director

Martyrs: Earth

Martyrs: Earth

2014

Director

Martyrs: Water

Martyrs: Water

2014

Director

Martyrs: Fire

Martyrs: Fire

2014

Director

Martyrs: Air

Martyrs: Air

2014

Director

Martyrs

Martyrs

2014

Director

Inverted Birth

Inverted Birth

2014

Director

Man Searching for Immortality/Woman Searching for Eternity

Man Searching for Immortality/Woman Searching for Eternity

2013

Director

The Dreamers

The Dreamers

2013

Director

The Encounter

The Encounter

2012

Director

Walking on the Edge

Walking on the Edge

2012

Director

Traveling on Foot

Traveling on Foot

2012

Director

A Phrase from Chris

A Phrase from Chris

2011

Director

The Innocents

The Innocents

2008

Director

Three Women

Three Women

2008

Director

Ocean Without a Shore

Ocean Without a Shore

2007

Director

Poem B (The Guest House)

Poem B (The Guest House)

2006

Director

Basin of Tears

Basin of Tears

2005

Director

Ablutions

Ablutions

2005

Director

Fire Woman

Fire Woman

2005

Director

Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)

Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)

2005

Director

The Tristan Project

The Tristan Project

2004

Director

The Raft

The Raft

2004

Director

Emergence

Emergence

2003

Director

Going Forth By Day

Going Forth By Day

2002

Director

Fire Birth

Fire Birth

2002

Director

The Path

The Path

2002

Director

The Voyage

The Voyage

2002

Director

The Silent Sea

2002

Director

Four Hands

Four Hands

2001

Director

Catherine's Room

Catherine's Room

2001

Director

Surrender

Surrender

2001

Director

The Quintet of the Astonished

The Quintet of the Astonished

2000

Director

Anima

Anima

2000

Director

Eternal Return

Eternal Return

2000

Director

Ascension

2000

Director

The Crossing

The Crossing

1996

Director

The Veiling

The Veiling

1995

Director

Interval

Interval

1995

Director

The Greeting

The Greeting

1995

Director

Déserts

Déserts

1994

Director

The Passing

The Passing

1992

Director

Slowly Turning Narrative

Slowly Turning Narrative

1992

Director

The Nantes Triptych

The Nantes Triptych

1992

Director

Heaven and Earth

Heaven and Earth

1992

Director

The Sleepers

The Sleepers

1992

Director

The Stopping Mind

The Stopping Mind

1990

Director

Angel's Gate

1989

Director

Sodium Vapor

1986

Director

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

1986

Director

Silent Life

Silent Life

1986

Director

Reverse Television - Portraits of Viewers

Reverse Television - Portraits of Viewers

1984

Director

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

1983

Director

Anthem

Anthem

1983

Director

Ancient of Days

Ancient of Days

1982

Director

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

Director

Vegetable Memory

Vegetable Memory

1980

Director

The Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool

1979

Director

Moonblood

Moonblood

1979

Director

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

1979

Director

Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier 1979

Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier 1979

1979

Director

Memories Of Ancestral Power

Memories Of Ancestral Power

1977

Director

The Wheel of Becoming

The Wheel of Becoming

1977

Director

The Morning After the Night of Power

The Morning After the Night of Power

1977

Director

Memory Surfaces and Mental Prayers

Memory Surfaces and Mental Prayers

1977

Director

Sweet Light

1977

Director

He Weeps for You

He Weeps for You

1977

Director

Truth Through Mass Individuation

Truth Through Mass Individuation

1976

Director

The Space Between the Teeth

The Space Between the Teeth

1976

Director

Four Songs

1976

Director

Junkyard Levitation

Junkyard Levitation

1976

Director

Songs of Innocence

Songs of Innocence

1976

Director

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

Director

A Non-Dairy Creamer

A Non-Dairy Creamer

1975

Director

Playing Soul Music to My Freckles So They Won't Get Lonely

Playing Soul Music to My Freckles So They Won't Get Lonely

1975

Director

A Million Other Things (2)

A Million Other Things (2)

1975

Director

Red Tape: Collected Works

Red Tape: Collected Works

1975

Director

Return

1975

Director

The Semi-Circular Canals

The Semi-Circular Canals

1975

Director

Information

Information

1973

Director

The Crossing

Director

Acting13

Bill Viola: The Road to St. Paul's

Bill Viola: The Road to St. Paul's

2017

Self

What Is Cinema?

What Is Cinema?

2013

Self

Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart

Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart

2003

Self

Going Forth By Day

Going Forth By Day

2002

(segment "The Voyage")

The Voyage

The Voyage

2002

Gatekeeper

Trovoada

Trovoada

1995

Self (voice)

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

1986

Himself

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

1983

The Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool

1979

Performer

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

Return

1975

Processing the Signal

Processing the Signal

Himself

The Deluge

Writing12

Mary

2016

Writer

Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)

Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)

2005

Idea

The Raft

The Raft

2004

Writer

Going Forth By Day

Going Forth By Day

2002

Writer

Déserts

Déserts

1994

Writer

Angel's Gate

1989

Idea

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

1983

Writer

Anthem

Anthem

1983

Writer

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

Writer

The Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool

1979

Writer

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

Idea

Return

1975

Writer

Camera6

Déserts

Déserts

1994

Director of Photography

Angel's Gate

1989

Director of Photography

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

Director of Photography

The Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool

1979

Director of Photography

Guadalcanal Requiem

Guadalcanal Requiem

1977

Director of Photography

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

Director of Photography

Editing5

Going Forth By Day

Going Forth By Day

2002

Editor

Déserts

Déserts

1994

Editor

Angel's Gate

1989

Editor

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

Editor

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

Editor

Crew3

Going Forth By Day

Going Forth By Day

2002

Cinematography

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

1986

Cinematography

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

1979

Creator

Production2

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

1986

Producer

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

Producer