The very first video experience I had was in high school. They brought a black-and-white closed-circuit surveillance camera into the classroom. I will never forget, as a kid, looking at that image. Bill Viola blackbringcamera Change image and share on social
Art is, for me, the process of trying to wake up the soul. Because we live in an industrialized, fast-paced world that prefers that the soul remain asleep. Bill Viola artasleepfast Change image and share on social
The human brain is probably one of the most complex single objects on the face of the earth; I think it is, quite honestly. Bill Viola braincomplexearth Change image and share on social
I spend a lot of time writing. I get inspiration from texts rather than images. Bill Viola imageinspirationlot Change image and share on social
Video artists being at the low end of the totem pole economically, one of the ways we survive is to go around showing work and giving these talks. Bill Viola artisteconomicallyend Change image and share on social
When you come into my pieces, it's not an intellectual experience, it's a physical experience. It's coming at your body. There's light, there's sound, the lights in some pieces are going on and off. There's loud roaring sound happening. Bill Viola bodycomeexperience share on social
Since the time of St. Jerome, it was mandatory for any kind of scholar or thinker to spend time out in the desert in solitude. It's no coincidence that the desert has been a major part of the visionary or mystical experience from the beginning of time. Bill Viola begincoincidencedesert share on social
The world is fine and everything is normal and then, bang, you just get bowled over by the wrathful deities somehow. That happens in very small ways and happens in very large ways when you have a major conflagration in the world. It's another cycle of existence of human beings. Bill Viola bangbeingbowl share on social
One of the most important things for me in terms of my working method is doubt. I get very insecure about my ideas. And I don't say 'insecure' in kind of a paranoid way. I mean just: 'Are they good enough?' 'Is this the right thing to do?' I really beat myself up over that. Bill Viola beatdoubtgood share on social
The velocity and knee-jerk response to events happening in real time that television brings us precludes any kind of reflection or contemplation and therefore analysis. And that's been one of the greatest political dangers in the post-war era. The idea of the reasoned, thoughtful response goes out of the window. Bill Viola analysisbringcontemplation share on social