Jenny Holzer, Sophisticated Devices (Gallery View)

On view currently at Sprüeth Magers’s London gallery is a collection of solo works from multimedia artist Jenny Holzer, exhibiting Holzer’s unique interplay of semiotics and text used to create the art object.

Jenny Holzer, WITH BLEEDING INSIDE THE HEAD … TEXT: LIVING SERIES (1980-1982), 1981

Over the course of her 35+ year career, Holzer has explored the narrative effects of text in her work, the trenchant ability of a well-placed phrase to conjure vivid imagery and challenge contemporary societal mores.  Exploring a range of cultural signifiers, Holzer uses the elements of the mundane as vehicles for her message, encoding ulterior narratives into the everyday.  The resulting dialogue between elements illicit moments of illumination, humor, and morbid fascination, occasionally at the same time.

Jenny Holzer, Sophisticated Devices (Gallery View) – Sprüth Magers London

Among the pieces on view are several collaborations with graffiti artists Lady Pink and A-One, exploring the nature of control, death and fear acting on the public in a world of nuclear proliferation.  Blending sharp, pointed words with lush colors, the works create immediate impacts, and show an elaborate departure from Holzer’s other exhibited work, while still maintaining her signature style.  The show also features a number of carved plagues and cement benches, subtle nods to the cultural architecture of death, as well as her signature scrolling LED lights and text paintings.

Jenny Holzer, WHEN YOU’RE ON THE VERGE OF DETERMINING … TEXT: LIVING SERIES (1980-1982)

Jenny Holzer, FLASHLIGHT TEXT: SURVIVAL (1983-1985), 1983-84

Jenny Holzer, BODIES LIE IN THE BRIGHT GRASS AND SOME ARE MURDERED AND SOME ARE PICNICKING TEXT: SURVIVAL (1983-1985, 2005)

Jenny Holzer – Sophisticated Devices (Gallery View)

Jenny Holzer, BY YOUR RESPONSE TO DANGER …, TEXT: LIVING (1980-1982, Editioned 1981)

Jenny Holzer, I AM NOT FREE BECAUSE I CAN BE EXPLODED ANYTIME TEXT: SURVIVAL (1983-1985), 1983-84, 1983-84

Jenny Holzer, LITTLE QUEENIE …, TEXT: LIVING SERIES (1980-1982, 1989)

Jenny Holzer – Sophisticated Devices (Gallery View)

The show is on view until July 28, 2012.

—D. Creahan

All images courtesy Sprüeth Magers Gallery.

External links

Jenny Holzer

Sprüth Magers Website

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