The Semi-Circular Canals (1975)

The Semi-Circular Canals (1975) poster

The title of The Semi-Circular Canals refers to the portion of the human ear that regulates balance. Viola constructed a platform on which he and the recording equipment counterbalanced one another, while freely suspended from a large tree. The artist appears to be sitting calmly at the center of the universe as the earth rotates. He writes, "The tape was inspired by NASA films and develops references to cosmological cycles, with the individual at the rotational center of their universe."

Director: Bill Viola
Runtime: 9 min
Release Date:
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Bill Viola

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Semi-Circular Canals about?
The title of The Semi-Circular Canals refers to the portion of the human ear that regulates balance. Viola constructed a platform on which he and the recording equipment counterbalanced one another, while freely suspended from a large tree. The artist appears to be sitting calmly at the center of the universe as the earth rotates. He writes, "The tape was inspired by NASA films and develops references to cosmological cycles, with the individual at the rotational center of their universe."
Who directed The Semi-Circular Canals?
The Semi-Circular Canals was directed by Bill Viola.
How long is The Semi-Circular Canals?
The Semi-Circular Canals has a runtime of 9m (9 minutes).