Time Based Art

Time based media is usually created and focused around technology and can be displayed in a video, film, slideshow, audio or anything else computer based. Artists create galleries which display their videos and the aim is to watch the art unfold over time. I like this form of art and animation because it gives the artist a different opportunity to display their work, compared to, a painting or photograph for example. Time based media is usually very unique and interesting to look at even though it is usually a still background and one act unfolding over a short period of time.

Bill Viola

I looked at some famous artists that have created time based art. The first person I looked at was Bill Viola. A lot of Bill’s work is focused around water due to the fact that he nearly drowned as a child. I am a fan of Bill’s work because he has varied from a comedy aspect to a serious aspect and has used people as a large form of his art. This gives a unique and life like feel to his art. One of my favourite pieces from Bill is called The Deluge which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3VoMuwBPAE.

So much of Bill’s work involves water and it can sometimes get repetitive but he has used water in so many different ways that it is always different in some aspect. Bill also has a great way of explaining his work and the reasonings behind it. Another great piece from Bill is called Martyrs (Earth, Air, Fire, Water). This displays people or martyrs being effected by the 4 elements, which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_ZcIoGeRIQ.

Bill’s work, to me, feels like a moving painting or photograph because of the style in which he creates his work. This is with a still background and the use of people and other things moving to create the time based art.

Bruce Nauman

Another time based artist I looked at was Bruce Nauman, who was one of the first people to create time based media and make it a popular art form. He created time based art in the 1960s and one of his first pieces was called Performance Corridor which he released in 1968. A lot of Bruce’s initial time based art was created using his own body. This can be seen in pieces such as Wall-Floor Positions. In this piece he simply moves his body into different positions against a small area consisting of a wall and floor and he does this for around an hour.

Bruce has some time based pieces which are based on the person viewing them. He firstly, created some pieces in which he videos himself moving through these small corridors in different ways. He then installed these pieces in galleries and allowed people to view and move through them. I like this because it is different from most time based pieces and can be affected by things such as light moving through the corridors and colours lights being projected throughout the corridors. The fact that you can experience these pieces for yourself is also what makes them unique.

Tony Oursler

Tony Oursler’s work is more focused around people, their faces and distorting them to create his art. He uses projections and different shapes to distort his art. A lot of his work is similar in this way but is still unique from other forms of time based media. He has created music videos with David Bowie. which followed his projection style.

Here you can see the style of Tony’s work. This is consistent throughout his work and he has the faces and peoples features moving. I do enjoy this style because it is eye catching and can also be humorous to look at.

Refik Anadol

Refik Anadol uses a digital style when creating his work and uses projections in rooms to bring a room to live. He also uses a distortion style and has still images moving and distorting to change into other images. I like this style of projection onto walls and floors as I have seen and enjoyed this style when watching NBA games. Before a game starts they project an animation onto the court which looks very striking and real. Refik has a similar style with his work but it is focused more around shapes and these shapes moving.

I feel as if this style of time based media is important because it is the way in which advertising and technology is moving. It is becoming more and more common and people like Refik help to pioneer and move this style in the right direction.