The American contemporary artist Bill Viola has died, aged 73.

A pioneering force in the realms of new media, video, and installation art, Viola’s work was characterised by his use of immersive video and soundscapes. By meticulously slowing down images, Viola felt he was able to offer glimpses into what he called “the unfolding of consciousness” and “the revelation of beauty.”

His works have been shown in major Australian institutions including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

Bill Viola, 1951–2024.

Born in 1951 in Queens, New York, Viola graduated from Syracuse University in 1973, where influential figures such as Jack Nelson, David Ross, Peter Campus, and Nam June Paik shaped his artistic vision.

His career took off in the mid-1970s with his first major installation, Il Vapore, in Florence, Italy. It was during this period that Viola began his extensive travels, capturing traditional performances and rituals in remote locations such as the Solomon Islands and Indonesia.

In 1977, Viola was invited to Melbourne, Australia by Kira Perov, then a director of cultural activities at...