Montevideo was founded in 1978 by René Coelho.The inspiration for this came out of the appreciation of the work of Livinus van de Bundt, the pioneer of Dutch video art. The first activity of MV was an exibition of Livinus's work. Subsequently, other artists, drawn from diverse disciplines in the visual arts, followed and began experimenting with video. MV grew from a small gallery into a multi-functional centre for media art, dedicating itself to the production and post-production, distribution and promotion of media art and to the stimulation of a wider public interest in it. The distribution / collection currently consists of appr. 800 international titles. There is also a documentation archive on video, comprising about 500 titles. The provision of production facilities includes the rental of professional recording and post-production equipment. A ll these facilities are available to artists and are provided at low tariffs. Since 1978, the gallery has organised a monthly exhibition, usually devoted to the work of one artist. During recent years Montevideo has also undergone a gradual change of emphasis directed towards research, and the foundation now functions as a media-laboratory. In working with electronic media - the video medium has long since ceased to be the exclusive means - artists have come up against problems, for which there are no ready-made solutions. Consequently, they find themselves driven into developing new techniques of their own. The ironic result is that these same innovative techniques often turn out to be suitable for commercial application - the roles have been subtly reversed: whereas in the past artists made use of electronic media that was designed to meet commercial requirements, it is they themselves who are now developing techniques that are apparently ideal for commercial application! “When Tongues Strike Silent" At present we are confronted with the “noisy” overgrowth of images and information, with the chatter and babbling of the media, so what is more serene and beautiful than silence? The mental stillness of the image. The absolute silence. The radical absence of language. I’m truly convinced that in every image a spirit lurks that, once invoked, can strike tongues silent. ” Maurice Nio