By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Transfiguration is a word that has religious connotations. In Christianity, transfiguration is the event when Jesus Christ appeared before three apostles in ``glorified'' form.
Leading American video artist Bill Viola goes beyond the traditional Christian concept with ``Transfigurations,'' a series of exciting new video works currently shown at the Kukje Gallery New Space in Seohyeon-dong, Jongno, Seoul.
``Transfiguration is a word that means transformation, a change in form. In ancient Greek, the word was metamorphosis. The idea of metamorphosis is really an essential part of human beings. Every seven years, all the cells of your body are changed. They're all new. We are literally not the same person from year to year,'' Viola told reporters last week. He and his wife Kira Perov were in Seoul for the opening of his second solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery since 2003.
The new works are an extension of