Violin Power

Copied Steina Vasulka, Violin Power, 1970-1978, single-channel video, black and white, sound; 10:04 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.12, © 1978 Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY

Artwork Details

Title
Violin Power
Artist
Date
1970-1978
Location
Not on view
Copyright
© 1978 Steina Vasulka. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY
Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company
Mediums
Mediums Description
single-channel video, black and white, sound; 10:04 minutes
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — musical instrument — violin
  • Figure female — waist length
  • Performing arts — music — violin
Object Number
2008.21.12
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2008.21.12

Artwork Description

Steina Vasulka, who was trained as a classical violinist, describes this work as “a demo tape on how to play video on the violin.” Violin Power weaves the audio signal into the video image, linking sight with sound and outlining a new electronic aural-imaging “syntax.” The video ties the two senses together in a single signal and demonstrates natural assumptions about what is seen and what is simultaneously heard. As the tape progresses through three performances, audio wave forms produced by the musical instrument begin to affect the video image and eventually become the video generator itself.

Watch This!: Revelations in Media Art, 2015