American videohudozhnik Bill Viola (Bill Viola) uses a cutting-edge technology, through which it affects the eternal theme. Creativity can be described as Viola «spiritual» in the broadest sense: it is expressed and the teachings of Zen Buddhism and the religious search for the artists of the Renaissance. In his video Viola aims to show the status of «outside» - beyond life and death, heaven and hell, good and evil. Mysterious another world, where all the traffic slowed and Sounds - muted. Therefore, in his video so often appears the water, dark depths, which are slowly immersed in the anonymous heroes.

In response to the growing popularity of modern art to it signify the beginning of interest in the church. In recent years, it is actively looking for ways to be with him «friends». Mystical works by Bill Viola is very suitable for this purpose. According to rumors, even the artist's work will be exhibited in the Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2011. Recently it was reported that Viola create videoikony to St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Now the artist is working on this project in his studio in Los Angeles. He is going to create an installation with two «image», one of which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and another - the martyrs. Opening artist's installation will be a great event for London - so far none of the churches the city has no such works. Moreover, Viola's creations will be the first in the world videoikonami, exhibited in a famous temple. St. Paul's Cathedral, built in the XVII century image of the architect Christopher (Christopher Wren), is a symbol of the British capital.

Recently, 57-year-old Viola said in an interview with Bloomberg, that the prospect of becoming the main sponsor videoikon in England his «little staggering». Tasks, which gave him the power of London, without exaggeration can be called sverhotvetstvennym - the work will remain permanently in the cathedral.

works Viola has been exhibited in the temples - the truth, only for temporary exhibitions. In 1996, his video, entitled «Messenger» decorate a western door of the cathedral city of Durham. This video shows a naked male figure, shimmering under the water and slowly rise to the surface. A man punches his body water «wall», made breath and once again falls under the water. According to the artist, «Minister» is a metaphor of life and mystery of human existence. Viola said that by creating this work, he did not mean any specific religious doctrine. On the other hand, he does not deny the influence of Christianity in his work: «If we talk about my spiritual practice, I am not a devout Christian, but still I am a product of this cultural system». In his works he often tells about the «transformation, the threshold between life and death and the slowing of time». Normally, an act which in reality lasted only a few seconds - falling into the water, for example - at Viola stretched for many minutes. Now «Messenger» on display in the Berlin gallery Haunch of Venison.

Why do Viola is particularly relevant to the water? As a grandfather Freud, the roots must lie in childhood. When Viola was a child, he once went with my family at the lake, which nearly drowned - and if not for the future of the artist's uncle, now would you not read this article. Viola for life remember that a second, during which he was one step from death in the silent underwater world.

In 2007, Viola's video from the series «The ocean without shores», which became a sensation in last year's Venice Biennale, on display in the small church of San Gallo. Each video in black and white, as in old photographs, the men and women pass through a curtain of water and are colorful. In this work, the artist once again tells the other dimension, where people are within a few moments between life and death.

Bill Viola does not know yet exactly how it will look videoikony to St. Paul's Cathedral. He is now actively exploring the works of the altar images.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Source: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru