Bill Viola: The Passions
The National Gallery, London 22 Oct. 2003 – 4 Jan. 2004

Previous: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]  Next: [8] [9] [10]

LONDON, Dec 10, 2003/ FW/ --- At the preview in an informal circle of conversation near The Locked Garden, Viola at center, touched upon how today’s society is taught to hold in emotions, especially men.

He talked about how there is no public ritual of emotional release and behind closed doors CEO’s don’t cry. He said he was amazed to see the open emotions at the death of Princess Di by the English who stereotypically hold in emotions.

He went on to talk about the outpour of human compassion from around the world at 9/11.

The movie "Remains of the Day" starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson comes to mind. Hopkins portrays Mr. Stevens the butler, who holds his emotions so close to the chest he lets potential love with Emma Thompson’s character Ms. Kenton go unrequited.

Kenton asks Stevens, “Why do you always have to hide what you feel?” Stevens skirts the question and changes the subject, locking his emotions further away.

Locked Garden takes separate images of a man and woman on digital flat-panel screens starting in a place of hidden emotions.

In close up we see these two people go through the private and public emotions of joy, sorrow, anger and fear. The expression of these emotions is stretched out in time, a slowed down human journey.

Catherine’s Room

The 14th century paintings of St. Catherine of Siena Praying were a catalyst to Catherine’s Room depicting one woman in five vignettes.

Mater Dolorosa Workshop of Dirk BOUTS probably 1475-1500 Oil on oak 36.8 x 27.9 cm The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London

These are solo spiritual moments in a woman’s life in a singular room with variations of lighting; practicing yoga, sewing, writing, lighting votive candles in silent prayer or the simple act of going to bed with her private dreams.

The actor Weba Garretson was given historical text, writings of 14th century mystics to read in preparation to evoke the range of emotions required for the artworks. The vignettes subtly come to life.

Previous: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]  Next: [8] [9] [10]