jenny holzer presents augmented reality pieces at the guggenheim bilbao

the guggenheim bilbao has announced like beauty in flames, a work of augmented reality by jenny holzer. the artwork — which joins the museum’s collection — presents the artist’s signature text-based art through the medium of AR. the three distinct experiences — two site-specific works that engage with the museum’s architecture and a third one that can be accessed from anywhere in the world — have been created exclusive for the museum’s collection.

images © 2021 jenny holzer, member artists rights society (ARS), NY / VEGAP by erika ede

like beauty in flames continues with jenny holzer’s thought-provoking texts placed on the public sphere in a democratic and accessible way. at the museum, an AR version of an LED sign takes over the central atrium with truisms in english, spanish, basque and french school by. each of the museum’s three floors provides a different experience, as the LED’s interaction with the building’s architecture shifts depending on one’s vantage point.

the guggenheim bilbao’s exterior showcases AR projections on its façade from five locations around the campus in a virtual echo to the artist’s 2019 for bilbao piece presented during her retrospective exhibition titled thing indescribable. for this show, holzer is using other author’s texts. for example, like beauty in flames is borrowed from polish poet anna świrszczyńska’s poem beauty dies.

the artwork’s final component enables users to see holzer’s truisms take form in space in any setting. this new possibility embodies the spirit that has informed holzer’s practice throughout her long career of placing language in the public domain to spark reflection and contemplation.

exhibition info:

name: beauty in flames

artist: jenny holzer

location: guggenheim bilbao + virtual