Spin Events
Jenny Holzer
BLUE PURPLE TILT 2007 by Jenny Holzer (c) ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate
Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh
29 April 2010, 6-7.30pm
In collaboration with ARTIST ROOMS on Tour, Talbot Rice Gallery presents the first solo show in Scotland of the American artist Jenny Holzer.
Jenny Holzer has been at the forefront of American art since the early 1980s, gaining widespread recognition when texts from her Truism series appeared on vast electronic advertising board overlooking Times Square in New York. Throughout her career, Holzer has intrigued audiences by placing her provocative messages in unexpected contexts including posters, metal plaques, stone benches and electronic signs as well as transforming gallery spaces into places for serious political thought. Since 2001, Holzer has incorporated poetry and writing by others into her practice and since 2004, has made the inclusion of government documents central to her work.
For the Talbot Rice exhibition, Holzer’s characteristically provocative text-based works are shown, including a selection of Inflammatory Essays which present a range of challenging statements inspired by the texts of political theorists and religious fanatics; a series of screen prints made from declassified American military documents released under the Freedom of Information Act; an installation of text pasted directly onto the gallery walls of Truisms (1977-1979) – arguably Holzers best-known work; and a signature LED display Blue Purple Tilt, 2007 which completely transforms the Georgian gallery.
Joining us to question the use of text and language in contemporary art and to contemplate Holzer’s responsibility to her audience, will be Pat Fisher, Principle Curator of Talbot Rice and Zoe Fothergill, Curator and Educational Development Manager for Talbot Rice.