Opposites: Persistent yet Futile

The Chapel of Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures by Bill Viola

Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures is a museum scale exhibition of nine works by video artist Bill Viola displayed in London’s Blain|Southern gallery.

Presenting three bodies of work, The Frustrated Actions, The Mirage and the Water Portraits, Viola tries to portrays people’s persistent yet futile attempts to entirely and deeply understand meaning of their lives and themselves.

Amongst the works showcased, there is The Chapel of Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures with nine screens depicting figures repeating various activities such as pulling a cart on the hill by a man only to let it roll down again. Presented in the gallery on the lower floor there is also Dreamers depicting underwater portraits of people appear to be sleeping accompanied by sounds of water in the background.

 The Chapel of Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures by Bill Viola 

With his inspirations drawn from a wide range of influences including spiritual traditions of Zen Buddhism, Islamic Sufism and Christian mysticism, Viola tries to express truths about human existence and memories with a universal appeal that give his viewers a chance to contemplate on their own emotions.

Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures runs from 5th of June until 27th of July at Blain|Southern, 4 Hanover Square, W1S 1BP London