Exam Project /Life Cycle Project - In Depth Analysis - Bill Viola ''Nantes Triptych''

CONTEXT:

This specific piece of art was made by a man called Bill Viola. He Specifically works with video media and instillation so he can therefore capture the image an the sound. This piece has a duration of 29 minutes, 46 seconds made in 1992. It's called ''Nantes Triptych''. He's generally been around or doing media and video all his life. His works focuses on human experiences, religion, spirituality etc.

ASTHETICS:

I think the way the three images a placed in order of age makes the piece more real but also looks as if it is telling a story. I also think that black in the background that gives it a border gives it a emotive meaning, using a bold colour like black can make the image quite dark and depressing. The three set images could give a sense of rhythm if we were looking at it in terms of a life cycle, we could see the images going round in a circle and ongoing, giving the piece movement. Each Image is symbolic to a certain time in life, the first one being a baby in the early stages in life. the middle to me could look like a ''mid-life crisis'' as the person is in the rain and that is associated with negative things and the last one meaning death. 

MEANING:

This type of art would be mixed media and could be about numerous things; emotions, concepts of transformation, people, young and old, death, spirituality and society. Many different subjects you could relate this piece to. You could say this work has a theme of life and transformations throughout it.  I think the story may have come from that Viola may have wanted to make a piece that is relevant to everyone and what happens everyday. These three panels represent key stages of life. I think this piece can allow open interpretation and how you wish to look at it. 

PERSONAL RESPONSE:

When i look at this piece is make you feel sad in a way that we only seen life in three stages and presented life as short and 2/3 images are quite emotively negative. And there's any positive images to represent life. My first reaction to the work was quite negative as straight away none of the colours are bright of and happy emotions on anyone's face. But it was also quite interesting to look at life an realistic way of the time scale - being quite short. The middle panel draws my attention the most as you it isn't very clear to see what it is and have you interpret yourself. Also the rain makes the image much more interesting.  This piece you can easily relate some of it to your own life and maybe question which stage are you at yourself, therefore being quite provoking. Personally, I don't like the piece myself as I would look at life quite positively rather than a depressing short time.