Jenny Holzer: Big letters give us little truth

Big letters give us little truth!
That is what I thought when in 2003 I saw an installation of Jenny Holzer.

Jenny Holzer is a conceptual projection artist from Ohio who attended Ohio University and Rhode Island School of Design. She started out focusing on painting and printmaking and then moved to projection text projects in New York City. The main body of her work occurs in public spaces. She started using LED signs and street posters and expanded her medium to include all types of signs, benches, stickers, paintings, photos, and so forth. She uses text written by others including famous authors and words from different sources such as US Army documents or minutes from interrogations of soldiers in Abu Ghraib. The theme of Holzer’s work revolves around social issues such as violence, feminism, war, and sexuality. She wants to open up thoughts and perceptions.

Her work "Truism" collect a serie of phrases, some are common myths while others are just phrases on random subjects, written in the form of slogans.

Truism was displayed in storefronts, on outdoor walls and billboards, and in digital displays in museums, galleries, and other public places, I think Holzer installation is a strong form of art because provoke a thought in viewers. Jenny Holzer’s work is innovative and powerful. She is able to make social statements using her art in public places where the impact is the greatest. I applaud her use of her art to increase conciousness and make people stop and think.– instead of “pretty” art, she is creating art with meaning.

A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS ARE CRACKPOTS
A SENSE OF TIMING IS THE MARK OF A GENIUS
DECADENCE CAN BE AN END IN ITSELF
DYING SHOULD BE EASY AS FALLING OFF A LOG
EATING TOO MUCH IS CRIMINAL
GOVERNMENT IS A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE
HOLDING BACK PROTECTS YOUR VITAL ENERGIES
IT IS MAN'S FATE TO OUTSMART HIMSELF
LISTEN WHEN YOUR BODY TALKS
MEN ARE NOT MONOGAMOUS BY NATURE
POLITICS IS USED FOR PERSONAL GAIN
SLOPPY THINKING GETS WORSE OVER TIME
TECHNOLOGY WILL MAKE OR BREAK US
WORDS TEND TO BE INADEQUATE

via: Jenny Holzer