Between 1969 and 1973 he studied at New York State University, Syracuse, from where he graduated in experimental studies at the College of Visual and Performing Arts. In his student years he had already begun to take an interest in video and electronic music. In 1973 he met the composer David Tudor, with whom he worked on several occasions. That year was a turning point for him: he considers that the videos he had done up till then are research works which he classifies as «structural videos». Until then his fundamental concern had been the exploration of the «ego». From then on his presence in the videos and video installations becomes merely token. In Viola's videos and video installations there are two fundamental elements: the importance he attaches to sound, and time. Using techniques to prolong, concentrate, slow down and superimpose the image, he aims to concentrate the gaze and make visible what normally passes us by unnoticed.