Its central theme focuses on the profound love between Tristan and
Isolde, a love so deep that it cannot be contained in their human forms.
The lovers decide that only in death can they be united, and their
liberation from this world is represented by Viola through the
all-consuming elements of fire and water. Bill Viola’s work has the
ability to create a timeless connection between past and present, seen
and unseen.
The presentation of these installations in a room
that was once the chapel of the Palazzo allows the viewer the solitude
to observe and contemplate, and illuminates not only our lives, but also
evokes the lives of those who inhabited these walls before us, “Forever
Now”.
Two of these works are presented here:
Fire Woman, 2005
Video/sound installation, 11.12 minutes
Fire Woman
is an image seen in the mind’s eye of a dying man. When the flames of
passion and fever finally engulf the inner eye, and the realization that
desire’s body will never again be met blinds the seer, the reflecting
surface is shattered and collapses into its essential form–undulating
wave patterns of pure light.
Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall), 2005
Video/sound installation, 10:16 minutes
Tristan’s Ascension describes the ascent of the soul in the space after death as it is awakened and drawn up in a backwards, flowing waterfall.
Both works are kindly lent by ARTIS, Pinault Group
Gucci is proud to partner with The Film Foundation to restore and
present the works of visionary filmmakers who have made an enduring
contribution to the history of motion pictures.
Inspired by its 90-year heritage as an iconic brand, Gucci celebrates the creativity of the past as inspiration for the future. It is the hallmark of the company’s ‘Forever Now’ philosophy - and the foundation for Gucci’s commitment to preserving the work of artists and their legacies.
The restoration of these influential films has been made possible by Gucci as part of a multi-year partnership with The Film Foundation to add at least one film every year to a growing collection that includes
A Woman Under The Influence (1974, d. John Cassavetes),
Le Amiche (1955, d. Michelangelo Antonioni),
Wanda (1970, d. Barbara Loden),
Senso (1954, d. Luchino Visconti),
Il Gattopardo (1963, d. Luchino Visconti), and
La Dolce Vita (1960, d. Federico Fellini).
The contemporary art space will be showing video artworks by contemporary artists, in this case we are extremely grateful to Bill Viola for the loan of selected works from 1976-1981. These were originally produced as single video recordings, they include:
Migration, 1976
Colour, mono sound, 7:00 minutes
The Reflecting Pool, 1977-79
Colour, mono sound; 7 minutes
Ancient of Days, 1979-81
Colour, stereo sound; 12:21 minutes
Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat), 1979
Colour, mono sound; 28 minutes
BILL VIOLA
10.00 - 14.00
The Film Foundation
14.00 - 19.00
