Ill

William Wegman's short video "Ill" dates from 1970, placing it at the very beginning of his long and fruitful career working with video and photography. Wegman, born in 1943, initially trained as a painter, earning his BFA and MFA in painting in the mid-1960s. However, by the early 1970s, his work was already gaining international attention in museums and galleries for its innovative use of new mediums. This black-and-white, sound video, lasting only 15 seconds, exemplifies the concise, often humorous, and conceptually driven video art that marked his early period. It predates his famous collaborations with his Weimaraner dogs, Man Ray and Fay Ray, which would later define much of his public image. Early works like "Ill" showcase Wegman's unique artistic voice, which often plays with absurdity and simple, direct actions to create memorable, thought-provoking pieces.