The History
The birth of Video Installation Art, a combination of video technology and Installation Art, dates back to 1970s, the era of Video Art (1970s), which relied on motion pictures. Video Art, a tangent of Contemporary Art, comprises of video and/or audio data. Video Art is named after the video tape, as it was commonly used then. Now however, CD-ROMs, Hard Disks, and DVDs have replaced the video tapes. Korean-American artist Nam June Paik (1932-2006) was the pioneer of Video Installation Art. He used various television monitors in arranging sculptures, and went on to work with video walls & projectors, to create large imperial environment.
The Details
Video Installation Art exploits all the features of its surrounding environment in order to influence its spectators. It has no actors, no dialogues, and no plots. Therefore, such artworks should not be mistaken as films. It is a kind of site-specific art and has a 3-dimensional design. The key element of Video Installation Art is space, with the creativity levels and forms being contingent on the artists' concepts and aims. Such an installation can be temporary or permanent, with its setting in museums, galleries, and public & private places. Nurtured on electricity and darkness, the interactive art form employs everyday and natural materials, combined with new media, like video, sound, performance, internet, paintings, sculptures, film, photographs, audience, and computer.
The Artists
Gary Hill (born 1951), Tony Oursler (born 1957), Doug Aitken (born 1968), Bill Viola (born 1951), Vito Acconci (born 1940), Gustavo Aguerre (born 1953), Kutlug Ataman (Turkish - born 1961), Matthew Barney (Born 1967), Sylvie Belanger (Canadian - born 1951), and Nancy Buchanan (born 1946) - all American except the ones specifically mentioned.
The Art Works
One of the most famous video installation art works is the 'The Crossing' (1996) by Bill Viola, introducing a man consumed by flames on one half of a huge plasma screen, while he is shown under a water shower in the other half. This art was created to make us understand our 'self,' beyond our body. As the body dies and vanishes, a new self appears with a new consciousness. Gary Hill's 'Tall Ships' (1992) is another milestone in the field. One more notable video installation example is 'Electric Earth' (1999) by Doug Aitken. Here the public is moved to an airport by night. It has a flaming car and an abandoned shopping cart in a parallel world. A noiseless black rapper glides through the setting of a city. Here, the world of the 20th century is described, while also retaining the remains of an unknown civilization. The role of black character tells the meeting of French existentialists with America's big city world.
Conclusion
With the proliferating use of digital technology on the creative front, the popularity of video installation art is soaring!
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