Bill Viola's 'Mary' Installation at St Paul's Cathedral
Bill Viola's new video installation 'Mary', depicting a Pietà, will be unveiled at St Paul's Cathedral in London on September 8, 2016, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. The work joins 'Martyrs (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)', installed in the cathedral's nave in 2014. Both pieces, costing £2.5 million and created with his wife Kira Perov, were donated by Viola to Tate, which has lent them long-term to the cathedral. Viola described the themes of birth and death, consolation and suffering, aiming for the works to function as both contemporary art and devotional tools. This is Viola's fourth installation in a religious setting, following 'The Messenger' (Durham Cathedral, 1996), 'Ocean Without a Shore' (Church of San Gallo, Venice Biennale, 2007), and 'Study for The Path' (Basilica of San Marco, Milan, 2008).
Key facts
- Bill Viola's new video installation 'Mary' will be unveiled at St Paul's Cathedral in London on September 8, 2016.
- The installation depicts a Pietà and joins 'Martyrs (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)' installed in 2014.
- Both works cost £2.5 million and were created with Viola's wife Kira Perov.
- The works were donated by Viola to Tate, which has lent them long-term to the cathedral.
- Viola stated the works symbolize mysteries of existence: birth and death, consolation and suffering.
- This is Viola's fourth installation in a religious setting.
- Previous religious installations include 'The Messenger' at Durham Cathedral (1996), 'Ocean Without a Shore' at the Church of San Gallo during the 2007 Venice Biennale, and 'Study for The Path' at Basilica of San Marco in Milan (2008).
- Viola is known for video installations with a composed, monumental style and references to religious painting.
Entities
Artists
- Bill Viola
- Kira Perov
- Valentina Tanni
Institutions
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Tate
- Durham Cathedral
- Church of San Gallo
- Basilica of San Marco
- Artribune
- Politecnico di Milano
- Naba
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- New York
- United States
- Durham
- Venice
- Italy
- Milan