Bill Viola, an internationally acclaimed artist recognized as a pioneer in video art, is the subject of the solo exhibition Sculptor of Time at La Boverie in Liège, Belgium. Spanning three decades of Viola’s artistic practice, the exhibition presents 18 of his major works, featuring videos in which sophisticated use of sound and intense imagery unfolds through slow-motion techniques.

In this exhibition, Viola, who has been focusing on the fundamental themes of birth, life, and death, directs his exploration towards ‘time’—a decisive factor that shapes our connection to the world. By adjusting the speed of images and videos, reversing time, and creating parallels or overlapping time sequences, the artist positions himself as a ‘sculptor of time,’ guiding the audience through an experiential journey that deviates from the traditional flow of time. Here, the extreme change in speed disrupts the continuity and narrative illusion, prompting viewers to closely scrutinize images and contemplate the intrinsic nature of objects and phenomena.

Presented works provide an immersive experience of contemplation. Among them are The Quintet of the Astonished (2000), which explores primary emotions such as spiritual suffering, physical pain, anger, fear, and joy often found in medieval and Renaissance sacred paintings; The Greeting (1995), which conveys a spiritual dimension through painterly expressions inspired by Jacopo Pontormo's 16th-century painting; and Heaven and Earth (1992), which depicts the contrast between life and death through the juxtaposition of an elderly woman near death and a newborn baby. The exhibition continues through April 28, 2024.