Palazzo Reale | Bill Viola

From 24 February to 25 June 2023, Palazzo Reale in Milan presented fifteen masterpieces by Bill Viola for the first time as part of Milano Art Week, which took place from 11 to 16 April 2023. Carefully curated by Kira Perov, the artist’s wife and Executive Director of Bill Viola Studio, the exhibition brought together a considered selection of works spanning forty years. It created a unique experience, offering visitors the opportunity to reflect on life, embark on their own inner journey and immerse themselves in an alternative world entirely different from the one they had left behind at the entrance.

Viola’s works explore themes of life and death, incorporating contrasts between Eastern and Western cultures. The exhibition functioned as a retrospective, offering insight into Viola’s artistic journey over the past three decades. In Milan, visitors were confronted with profound themes, which Bill Viola evokes through slow-motion imagery and his masterful use of light, colour and sound, creating moments of deep reverence.

At Palazzo Reale, an immersive and introspective atmosphere was created, reminiscent of intimate spaces or sacred shrines. Visitors were invited to establish a deep visual and spiritual connection with the artworks.

The museum commissioned 235 Media with the technical implementation of all installations.