description Observance Overview
Observance is a 2002 video installation by American artist Bill Viola, created as part of his 'Passions' series. Filmed in slow motion, the work depicts a procession of figures filing past an unseen focal point, their expressions conveying varied states of grief and contemplation. Viola drew inspiration from Renaissance and Baroque depictions of lamentation and mourning, adapting these art-historical references into a contemporary video format. The piece is exhibited as a projection installation.
help Observance FAQ
What is the subject of Bill Viola's video installation "Observance"?
The 2002 video installation depicts a slow-motion procession of figures filing past an unseen focal point. The actors' faces convey deep, overlapping states of grief, contemplation, and sorrow as they move.
What art series does Bill Viola's "Observance" belong to?
"Observance" was created in 2002 as a core part of Viola's "Passions" series. This series famously explored extreme human emotions by filming actors in highly controlled, dramatic slow motion.
How is Bill Viola's "Observance" typically displayed in a museum?
The work is displayed as a video installation, typically projected vertically onto a screen mounted to a wall in a darkened room. The ultra-slow-motion footage creates a meditative, almost religious atmosphere for the viewer.
When was the video art piece "Observance" created?
Bill Viola created "Observance" in 2002. It remains one of his most studied pieces regarding the visual representation of mourning and shared human trauma.
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