Bill Viola - The Reflecting Pool

[yolandamacc]

Nice and brave.

[KCTrebs]

One of my favorite video art pieces

[simbagirl31]

the beginning was starting to scare me really bad. idk why.

[1fotka]

просто безбашенно!!очень,очень красиво!!

[manzanawatson]

increíble!



[bradoof63]

c pourri

[0DirtyDishes0]

It's still incredible... a narrative in ripples.

[360RuLeZz]

Could anyone please tell me what inspired him or what he wanted to tel us with artworks like that? Also how he created his works? is it a complete animation or filmed and edited?

I have to do an art presentation about him, so please help me

[vuhldis]

too bad I'm stuck in the 70's

[maartenverleg]

in een woord oenemeloen

[fragglesful]

"The Reflecting Pool where nature births forth an individual and then the person dissolves back into it. There's a wonderful sense of the cycle of birth and death." Rachel Kohn (The Spirit of Things--Radio National-Australia).

[fragglesful]

"It's like a leap of faith, it's like the greatest artists in the world in all cultures at all times in history have come to the precipice and taken that last step and fallen forward. It's the fall, or we could call it a leap of faith, where...are there rocks under the surface down there? It doesn't matter, you're going to just go anyway [...] it's just about getting to the other side, however you do it." Bill Viola (interview with 'The spirit of things' Radio National Australia).

[frodoman12345]

Anyone can recomend another more recently video instalation from Bill Viola

[ArtVt1]

Thanks for the upload. Saw this work I think around 12 years ago...made a great impression. Referring to someone writing Youtube doesnt do justice, very true. Though I am very happy to see this work once again! Thanks!

[eshcaine]

I saw this as an installation at the Orange County Museum of Art. The video quality here on YouTube doesn't do it justice. When you see it as intended, huge and projected on a wall, surrounded by the sounds Viola crafted to accompany it....it's beautiful, lush, entrancing and lovely. The first time I saw it, it stayed with me for weeks. The second time I got to see it, I just stayed and enjoyed it over and over for a long while.

[DickensianDreams]

Serene.

[hawkeyesurfer]

4:10 to 4:25 he uses an old trick used by magicians (the art of distraction) to make the jumping figure disappear. I love Viola's work. Go to the MCA in Sydney and see his latest offering. I highly recommend it.

[dragmio]

LOL I love these "people" who watched the entire thing and then declare it's boring. It wasn't boring after three minutes so you watched it til the end? What did you expect will happen? That a monster will get out of the pool and bite off the guy's head? It says "video art" in the description. Learn to read.

[miriamnz]

@dragmio Hahaha, love it :) But of course there is a place for head chomping monsters in art - I'm sure Goya's 'Saturn Eating his Children', would appeal more those who crave a bit of gory action.

[artsyalissa1]

I can read thanks...it's just very boring...if you think not, tell me why.

[KanelaNela]

because it`s deep

[KanelaNela]

@artsyalissa1...because it`s deep...think;)

[blackgingerhoe]

Want 6 minutes of my life back. I GET it. Just doesnt appeal to me.

[loveupskirts]

love it, ive been all over to try to find some bill viola.

[crossingmovie]

Genius. It is video as painting. A slow moving photograph. It's about self-reflection and self-obsession, but's it open to ones own personal interpretation thanks to it's minimal quality.

[barkoo]

i dont understand this but nice shot

[vonspre]

A masterpiece...

[pramic]

very nice video. good sound. good, patient amosphere and really nice idea.

[ulysses990803]

this video was made back in the 70s when video editing techniques were still kinda primitive.

[bleuboia]

I wanna understand it, but I can't. Can someone please tell me their view of this is, and why he made it. I wanna get IT.

[titainx]

yeah good idea if someone tells you can you share it with me? :/...

[kygal41501]

its art, its open to your interpretation :)

[62tenor]

Idea's okay, but at nearly seven minutes, it's not enough.

[katieandreno1fanx]

this is soooo just two video's overlapped xx

[archambaultlucas]

lol

[echovolcano]

woah fantastic but so creepy, not best to watch when at night in a dark room

[TenxinLove]

@echovolcano i second that! i was really freaked out about the whole thing - almost like the ring video minus the horror..

[jiajey]

that's awesome!!

Really deep and zen.

I like especially when appear that man in the pool even there isnt anyone outside in the wood!!

[titainx]

zen?

[Titike86]

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz­zz

[suhailayinn]

quien fuera artista que sin casualidad crease esos reflejos. Yo todavía no aprendí a suspenderme en el aire del todo. Y una vez desde ahí, ¿que tipo de magia es la que interviene para que suceda lo que tiene que suceder? nadie lo puede saber del todo. Bueno, me consideraré artista de los charcos de las aceras...

[moooohaha]

very beautiful. makes me think of girls lost on hanging rock. (Picnic at hanging rock - excellent film and book). An idyll you wouldn't wish to return from. thanks for posting. :-)

[holadijolaola]

what I like very much is when the jumping man remains in the air and then disappears in the air into the trees....

[JacobEmily1]

u r a piece o shit

[dreihasenfenster]

Für die damalige Zeit echt abgefahren, aber es hat auch heute noch eine totale Aura!

[TimsLimbs]

Take yourself back to the 1970s when this was made. Back then this kind of visual was ground breaking, litterally no one had ever seen anything like it. Back then it was art. Whether it is now depends on wether you have fallen for CGI hook line and sinker.

I think the film Citizen Kane is dire now but thats because i'm now and it was then, when the writeing was what people found interesting.

[smnewthtrblnmnd]

@TimsLimbs good point.

[hematitecrow]

@TimsLimbs You know Bill Viola's video installations are not famous because of the visual effects (though it does have a part to play). It's the meanings behind his works that are powerful and thought provoking.

[hematitecrow]

@TimsLimbs You know Bill Viola's video installations are not famous because of the visual effects (though it does have a part to play). It's the meanings behind his works that are powerful and thought provoking. If you notice the subtleties which convey messages in this video, as well his other videos, you'll be quite amazed.

[TimsLimbs]

@hematitecrow I agree, his piece "The Crossing" is one of my favourites, it just says so much. my original comment was in response to someone who thought the visuals were a bit lame - they had not taken the piece in context to the time it was made in terms of how it looked.

[bryanross1985]

@TimsLimbs you sir, are a dickhole

[RitaJeanDotCom]

@TimsLimbs I agree with the first half of your post, but regarding the second half: Citizen Kane was a groundbreaking film because of the camera shots that were used, and also because it was dangerously close to the real story of William Hurst (of Hurst Castle fame).

[RobertHBurns2]

I'm not the type to advertise, but I'm a big Bill Voila fan, and I need some critique on my own videos. Please, if not to inconvenience, please watch my "Hiding the Sweets" video and tell me how you feel. I apologize... but I know that by commenting on this video, I would be in good company and receive honest replies...

[SinanZee]

Oh wow, ur cool...

[pascalepetit]

really strange and thought provoking, about the nature and humanity balance and much more.

[f00d]

i agree i thought it was very creative and thought provoking, nice video matte effect

[pepxxx]

good effects and all...but I don't get it. Can anyone explain it to me?

[GrayMatterGrafix]

This is from a movement called video art. It was came into existence, I believe, in the 60's, maybe even a little earlier. Even Andy Warhol took part in this movement.

[gyeman01]

the title in itself is a double entendre, in the fact that it shows reflections but also a man 'reflecting' or thinking. the pool is a constant and is supposed to be the main focus in the video. the people walking by in the reflection of the water, in a way, portray passing time. the guy getting out at the end tells us he is finished thinking. i guess the ripples in the pool could be a focus of the man's thoughts or natural power. some correct me if im wrong.

[playxcracktheski]

i think your response is correct. if you've done any research on bill viola you'd know he's big into zen buddhism and has many eastern ties. it's worth checking out the essay "something rich and something strange" on him. you'll gain so much more insight when you watch any of his videos again after reading about him. you wont end up like half the morons who view it and go "what the hell was that? i bet i could make better art" ... idiots. - samantha jade

[crushedoutbmc]

Where could I find this essay, "something rich and something strange"?

Thank you!

[RubenvonZwack]

Did you find it? I would like to read it too! Thanks! :)

[crushedoutbmc]

:( Sorry, I never found it.

[RubenvonZwack]

Oh, nevermind, thanks for your reply!

I just got Bill Viola's book from the library, "Reasons for knocking at an empty House", have you heard about it? I am still reading. He's a cool person it seems.

[blackbaptism]

That guy left his shoes behind. D:

[5460252]

tooo good

[jbpmac]

imersion.... fantasticamente bem pensado e realizado

[jimpocacoherencia]

el mejor videoarte q vi en mi vida

[furibondaa]

today i have see this video with bill viola during a conference in rome....it was fantastic ..viola is a great teacher

[dmolinah]

my favorite video art ever

[blindthecensors]

pretty interesting!

[vgjr300]

sick! for being made in the 70's...(Y)

[goyoelpollo]

bravo Bill, de nuevo lo has logrado.

[colibri1]

meditative and unsettling

[benaventelucas]

algo de lo mejor del video arte