jenny holzer presents first chinese LED texts

jenny holzer presents first chinese LED texts
all fall, 2012
5 LED signs with blue, green, red & yellow diodes
text: truisms, 1977–79; survival, 1983– 85; living, 1980–82; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong kong, 2013
© 2012 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: jessica hromas

jenny holzer
pearl lam galleries, hong kong
september 19 – november 2, 2013

american conceptual artist jenny holzer, best known for large-scale public projections of texts and LED artworks, presents’ light stream’ at pearl lam galleries, hong kong. selections from her texts ‘truisms’, ‘living’, and ‘survival’ are presented on electronic signs and, atypical to her characteristic technological medium, on stone benches. ‘truisms’ is a composition of over 250 single sentence declarations that she authored at the beginning of her career, crafted to resemble existing aphorisms. ‘living’ embodies visceral themes, such as personal relationships, vulnerability within a fast-paced environment and self-contemplation. ‘survival’ is specifically composed for computerized signage and presents cautionary sentences which aim to instruct and inform in an urgent tone.

at the centerpiece of the exhibition is holzer’s largest LED gallery work to date, comprised over 25 LED elements. ‘light stream’ is a swarming mass of texts, layered and wrapped around one another and flashing to programmed pulses at specific rates. through frenetic luminosity and color, the pieces spotlight the darkened gallery space. chinese and english text appear alongside each other, encouraging dialogue within the exhibition. ‘though I rely on minimalist configurations, for decades I have wanted to offer a massive, irrational, unpredictable heap of glittering displays. I am happy about the paradox — what appears wild, chaotic, and spontaneous is a greater technical puzzle and more difficult challenge to realize’, holzer explains.

all fall, 2012
5 LED signs with blue, green, red & yellow diodes
text: truisms, 1977–79; survival, 1983– 85; living, 1980–82; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong kong, 2013
© 2012 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: jessica hromas

light stream, 2013 (detail)
28 LED signs with blue, green, red & white diodes
text: truisms, 1977–79; survival, 1983–85; living, 1980–82; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong kong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche

light stream, 2013 (detail)
28 LED signs with blue, green, red & white diodes
text: truisms, 1977–79; survival, 1983–85; living, 1980–82; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong kong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche

light stream, 2013 (detail)
28 LED signs with blue, green, red & white diodes
text: truisms, 1977–79; survival, 1983–85; living, 1980–82; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong kong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche

inclined, 2013 (detail)
LED sign with blue, green & red diodes
96 x 6 x 6 in. / 243.8 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm text: truisms, 1977–79; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong hong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche

(left) inclined, 2013
(right) inclined, 2013 (detail)
LED sign with blue, green & red diodes
96 x 6 x 6 in. / 243.8 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm text: truisms, 1977–79; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong hong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche

(left) inclined, 2013 (detail)
(right) inclined, 2013
LED sign with blue, green & red diodes
96 x 6 x 6 in. / 243.8 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm text: truisms, 1977–79; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong hong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche

truisms: 金錢造就品味, 2013
white chinese marble bench
17 x 61 x 25.4 in. / 43.2 x 154.9 x 64.5 cm text: truisms, 1977–79; installation: light stream, pearl lam galleries, hong kong, 2013
© 2013 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY; photo: collin lafleche