The Quintet of the Unseen is part of Bill Viola’s “emotions” series, which embodies his unique aesthetics of visualizing the invisible. Inspired by his study of late Medieval and early Renaissance painting and iconography, Viola created four video works between 2000 and 2001 that capture a range of emotional and physical nuances expressed by five performers. In this piece, the emotional shifts, facial expressions, and gestures of the five figures are filmed over 60 seconds and then dramatically extended into a work that runs for more than 16 minutes. Using slow motion achieved through high-speed filming, Viola makes visible the subtle and minute details of emotion, transforming imperceptible moments into an experiential space that evokes contemplation of time beyond the physical world.