Resolution 1, Video Art Context and Research

After having the epiphany that my piece is now actually sat in the realms of Video Art I wanted to get some context of other pieces and research and analyse these slightly to make sure my piece was relevant.

I began by simply getting a definition of what video art was. This is what I found:

'Video art is an art form which relies on moving pictures in a visual and audio medium. Video art came into existence during the late 1960s and early 1970s as new consumer video technology became available outside corporate broadcasting.' Wikipedia

This definition basically tells me video art is art made from moving images and audio which is exactly what I am doing. I also find it interesting how it came about from originally a commercial source and then got used in this artistic uncommercial way. It kind of represents everything I stand for within the art world as I never fancied working in a big mainstream corporate world.

'Art that involves the use of video and /or audio data and relies on moving pictures.' The Tate

The Tate website keeps their definition very simplistic which makes sense given he underlying but controversial theory that art is whatever you want it to and therefore anything can be art. I feel my piece will be video art because it is using moving image and audio together to show my journey but in a way which will then hopefully evoke emotion in people and make them think about the images they have seen. I feel art is good art when it emotes you and make you really consider what it was about. If mine can come anywhere close to doing this I will be happy with it.

'The genre known as video art, is a new type of contemporary art, and a medium of expression commonly seen in Installations, but also as a stand-alone art form. Initiated by such experimental artists as Andy Warhol, Wolf Vostell, and Nam June Paik, recent advances in digital computer and video technology, enabling artists to edit and manipulate film sequences, have opened up a range of creative opportunities and drawn numerous artists into the genre. Indeed, the Turner Prize - a key indicator of excellence in the postmodernist art world - was awarded to video artists in 1996/1997/1999. See also Turner Prize Winners. The theory and practice of video art is now taught as a Minor degree subject in many of the best art schools in America, and is exhibited in all the best galleries of contemporary art.' http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/video-art.htm

This definition was a lot larger and gave me even more background about the medium itself. I like how they have spoken about the ways its developed through technology and I feel that is something which I have always loved is the way art can use new technologies made for commercial and other purposes and use them to effect people with their art. I now also have some beginners names of this art form which I can begin to explore to see where video art began.

Past Artists (Beginnings)

Andy Warhol

Warhol was obviously know for his paintings and silk screen works like the tomato soup can prints. He already had success but then in 1963 he decided to begin experimenting with film then two years later he actually announced his retirement from painting all together to work exclusively on film. Although this never completely happened it has shown how artist such as Warhol really did acknowledge the power of film in the art world even if it was in a very controversial way like Warhol did. It is estimated that he made around 600 films between 63 and 76 and these films ranged massively in diversity. He was always pushing his work and even made pieces which were know as 'Anti-Film' pieces. I also love how after his massive dive into film and video art he then pushed it even further in a installation way like I want to use. He did a piece called 'the Exploding Plastic Inevitable' (EPI) in 1967 which was a multi media piece featuring The Velvet Underground rock band with projections of film, light and dance on them which combined to make an amazing installation/performance art which was also sensory and immersive. This is very similar to how my idea came about by seeing something like this myself and so this is also really inspiring. Here is a version of some of it I managed to find:

From seeing this I am just astounded by how ahead of his time he was with this experiment. Especially since effects like this are something live bands especially alternative bands really do try and achieve. People were saying this was a pivotal moment in the rock music industry and I feel like it was also that within the art industry because this showed people the power of combing of these forms of media such as live performance, music and video art. Its so raw and sensory and I would have loved to have been able to experience this myself.

Wolf Vostell
He is thought to be a pioneer of many arts and also one of the first artists to be creating video art and installations. I have never heard of him before by I was intrigued because when I search for his work such a variety of things came up. I however was instantly drawn as I usually am to his video art installations which seemed to be using multiple screens. Here is a video I found of one of his pieces:

Due to a language barrier I couldn't find much information on his video-art so instead I just searched for videos of it o I could see how he worked and I felt like a lot of these multiscreen pieces weren't just about what was on the screen but as you can see all the objects surrounding this. This is why I have mentioned that I may have objects in and amongst my projections and this is to try and add more depth and meaning like he does. These objects are relevant to his story so I could always try and add relevant objects into my story to try and enhance this with my projections which will see operated and distorted almost like his screen positioning. It is funny to see how an artist is able to do something with this kind of technology which has theories and ideas still relevant today in art. I just really like the look and feel of his work.

Video Art I Found and Like

Bill Viola
I really love Bill Viola as an artist because he makes video art which is so visually astounding but he also installs it in unique places and ways such as on the ceiling or in a cathedral. He also always has these amazing concept behind his videos but part of why I love his videos is because they usually happen so slowly that it really gives you time as a viewer to reflect on the visuals and what they are really trying to show and say. Here is a piece I have seen in person which I love:

As you can see through this video the visuals are amazing and so evoking. I feel like as an artist working with video art he really does take the time to think into his concerts and these ways he can show them which have so much depth behind them and really engage you as a viewer. He is really an inspiration to me because I would love to be able to capture people in the way he does.

Andrew Thomas Huang

Huang is a new artist who Ive never heard of previously but stumbled across his work while looking at other video pieces. It seems that he is one of the newer faces in video art only appearing really in 2007 but from then managing to produce many video art pieces. The reason I wanted to look at his work was because of again how drawn in I found myself viewing it for the first time and then when I looked at another video of his it happened again. Here are two of his videos both of which I really like:

This video uses a mix media approach having animation combined with real live action for the faces. I really like how he has found a new way to kind of represent and approach this subject of beauty in the media. To me the style of this piece was all what captivated me because it looked bleak but was recognisable almost in an uncanny way. I then stumbled upon this other piece:


This is again a mixed media approach but this time with live action and then special effects and animation added afterwards. I really love the dance sequence at the beginning and the visuals and the way this is filmed has really inspired me and got me thinking about maybe adding in some symbolic movements like this to my own film could actually enhance it further. This piece won awards at the Sundance film festival and rightly so because again it roped me in and I just couldn't stop watching it even in sections where I felt uncomfortable.

This research and analyse has helped me enter my mind into the world of video-art and how huge it is. While carrying out this research I feel into a video art whole on the internet and have watched a lot more than what is spoken about here however it has all added to my knowledge and helped me develop further on my own video art quest.