Three Women
Bill Viola, 2008
Information
Created in 2008, Three Women is a high-definition video on a plasma screen, with a duration of 9:06 minutes and dimensions of 156.21 × 92.71 × 12.7 cm. The work is part of the Chandris Collection.
Artistic Context
Bill Viola (b. 1951, USA) is one of the world’s most acclaimed video artists. Since the early 1970s, he has dedicated his work exclusively to the then-new medium of video, contributing decisively to its acceptance as a form of high artistic expression.
His early works focus on fundamental human experiences—such as birth, death, and transition. From the 1990s onward, Viola has developed a characteristic visual language: large video installations that show human figures suspended or moving slowly through water, in an almost supernatural slow motion. The inspiration for this theme comes from a personal experience: as a child, he nearly drowned—an event he later described as “unexpectedly serene.”
In Three Women, as in his other works, water acts as a symbolic mediator: a filter, a boundary, a gateway. The moment of passage from darkness to light signifies redemption, spiritual awakening, and the expansion of consciousness.
Placement & Dynamics at The Met
Three Women is integrated into The Met Hotel’s permanent collection, reinforcing the hotel’s high-aesthetic mission of connecting hospitality with contemporary art. Placed in a dimly lit, quiet space, it serves as a point of internal pause and contemplation.
The subtle movement of the figures and the watery texture of the image create an immersive experience that goes beyond simple observation: they propose an alternative rhythm, an aesthetic “breathing space” within the hotel environment.
Why it deserves your attention
- Evocative Aesthetics: The water, movement, and silence compose a magnetic image that captivates the viewer.
- Multilayered Symbolism: Themes like motherhood, loss, and spiritual elevation take shape through the video.
- Absolute Concentration: This is a visual moment that doesn’t just ask to be seen—but to be experienced.