Monday’s Muse: Jenny Holzer

Inspired by “clean, simple variations” artist Jenny Holzer turned away from traditional painting to focus on the far more intricate substance of language.

Using an array of loaded mottoes, phrases, verses, and quotations which have appeared on T-shirts, posters, marble benches, and condom wrappers, and collaborating with Helmut Lang, Holzer is probably most celebrated for her statements which are light-projected onto the exteriors of government, corporate, and community buildings around the globe, reaching audiences far beyond the usual gallery confinements.

“I used language because I wanted to offer content that people—not necessarily art people—could understand.”

There are lots of things I admire about Jenny Holzer’s work; the no-bullshit approach, it has great conversational direction for its viewers – being politically steered without giving too much energy to the wrong subject and aims to reach vast numbers of eyes and minds and hearts. It is also predominantly (and preferably) situated outdoors – a place, it seems, where Holzer is most comfortable – leaving New York City in the 80s and opting for a life in Hoosick Falls where she currently lives and works…

“Usually going places makes me feel optimistic. And I’m a hillbilly, so heading to the countryside made sense a number of ways. For certain it was, and is, good to be able to be in the dirt and to scratch bugs. I love the animals that have multiplied. I like taking care of what’s at the farm. One thing that changed when I moved upstate was that I became interested in different materials. I started making the stone benches because I was seeing rocks. I make most of my stuff at some remove. I think of a piece, and then people who are competent fabricate it.”

{Quotes sourced from Interview.}