bill viola stages an electronic renaissance at palazzo strozzi in florence

a major survey of bill viola’s work is presented alongside renaissance masterpieces in an exhibition at palazzo strozzi in florence. extending across some of the city’s other museums — like the uffizi gallery and the museo dell’opera del duomo — the show encompasses nearly 40 years of viola’s work, ranging from his early experimental pieces to installations completed in the last few years. titled ‘electronic renaissance’, the exhibition orchestrates a unique conversation between viola’s installations and works of the renaissance masters.

bill viola at palazzo strozzi, installation view © alessandro moggi

‘electronic renaissance’ explores viola’s long interest in experience and perception. carefully staged figures become the protagonists in his work, with a strongly symbolic style unfolding across vivid video installations. man is merged with forces of nature, coming in contact with water and fire, light and dark, and the cycles of life and death.

the setting of palazzo strozzi draws an unexpected dialogue between the works of renaissance masters like lukas cranach, masolino da panicale, pontormo and paolo uccello, and viola’s contemporary media pieces. at museo dell’opera del duomo, two of viola’s installations are displayed alongside the museum’s iconic masterpieces: donatello’s penitent magdalen and michelangelo’s bandini pietà.

bill viola (new york 1951): the deluge (going forth by day), 2002
36’ | color video projection with four channels of sound
long beach, CA, bill viola studio

celebrating viola’s relationship with florence — the city where he first developed his career — the exhibition emphasizes his interest in painters of the past, ones which have gone on to underscore the evolution of his artistic vocabulary.

paolo uccello (paolo di dono; pratovecchio, casentino 1397-firenze 1475): diluvio e recessione delle acque, 1436-1440
affresco staccato | cm 215 x 510
firenze, museo di santa maria novella

bill viola at palazzo strozzi, installation view © alessandro moggi

bill viola (new york 1951): emergence, 2002
11’40” | color high definition video rear projection on screen mounted on wall in dark room;
performers: weba garretson, john hay, sarah steben | cm 213 x 213 cm 5 x 5 x 7, dimensions room
long beach, CA, bill viola studio

masolino da panicale: pietà, 1424
affresco staccato | cm 280 x 118
empoli, museo della collegiata di sant’andrea

bill viola at palazzo strozzi, installation view © alessandro moggi

bill viola (new york 1951): the greeting, 1995
10’22” | video/sound installation; performers: angela black, suzanne peters, bonnie snyder
long beach, CA, bill viola studio

pontormo (jacopo carrucci; pontorme, empoli 1494-firenze 1557): visitazione 1528-1529 circa
olio su tavola | cm 207 x 159,4
carmignano (PO), pieve di san michele

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