For SAAM

Object Details

Artist

Jenny Holzer, born Gallipolis, OH 1950

Gallery Label

Jenny Holzer created For SAAM especially for this gallery of high ceilings and open space.

Since the 1970s, the artist has created public art, sculptures, and projections that present bold phrases out of context. These snippets of advice, cautions, and desires are stated as if self-evident, despite being subjective and debatable. Holzer's work encourages us to ask, "Who is speaking and in whose interest?" when ideas are pushed on the public but we do not know from where or why.

The texts presented here?are written in different voices and come from four series that span decades of Holzer's career. The words appear to swirl and rotate at varying speeds as little lights across the column turn on and off. This constant movement rewards viewers who slow down to piece together what For SAAM has to say.

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment

Copyright

© 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

2007

Object number

2008.3

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

electronic LED array with white diodes

Dimensions

336 x 48 in. (853.4 x 121.9 cm)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

On View

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 3rd Floor, East Wing

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Record ID

saam_2008.3

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk79c46c5c2-ed94-4f2b-8317-9c277438b745