Understanding Jenny Holzer through her Words of Art.

[My own experience with Jenny Holzer]

“What do I know about art?” Very little, I must add, but ever since I was given the assignment of researching the life of a living artist I decided to access the internet and came across a piece of art that I had once seen on the wall of my doctor’s office eight years ago,and engraved below it was the name Jenny Holzer. I could not believe my eyes, but it was and still is the lovely piece of art I had once fallen in love with. Now for the first time in my life I must allow myself to indulge into the world of art through the work of this living artist, and I was determined to get to know the artist behind this piece of art that captivated my heart with the strong messages embedded within the face of what seem to be that of a sad and lonely woman.

 [General biography]  

American artist Jenny Holzer was born July 29, 1950, in Gallipolis, Ohio.  She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Ohio in Athens after attending both Duke and Chicago University.  She did this while still enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design. She relocated to Manhattan in 1976 where she participated in the Whitney Museum’s independent study program. There she engaged in an extensive reading list of incorporated Western and Eastern literature as well as philosophy which she internalized and later summarized in her truisms series that launched her career as an artist. (Gale Group)

[Holzer’s art]

 Artist Jenny Holzer is best known for her many series of truisms, in which she uses language as a part of her art to engage her viewers into reasonable thinking. She allowed her earlier art pieces to be viewed by the public on posters, billboards, telephone booths and other public areas as she secretly listened to their opinionative discussions. This she uses to help mold her into the conceptual artist that she is now. By1989 her work of art had gained her world recognition when she became the first female artist chosen to represent the United States at Italy's Venice Biennale. (Chicago Sun Times 10/19/08)

[Holzer’s art]

Painter and conceptual artist Jenny Holzer is said to be a woman of more than just words and ideas. And after a long break away from the world of art the artist in 1994 returned to Barbara Gladstone gallery in New York with a collection of bones in an exhibition called “Lustmord,” which addresses violence against woman. The neatly arranged labeled bones were place on a table and represented by Holzer herself. This she stated was her way of giving voice to the unspoken. This very recent piece was electrified with the uses Light Emitting Diode (LED) to reach a larger scale of public viewers in a very stimulating way. (Galegroup)

[What reviewers say about Holzer]

Initially when Jenny Holzer started creating her expression of art she was considered by most to be an eccentric and many critics felt that her work was not an art at all but was essentially provocative messages and slogans that cause uproars among the public. (Chicago Sun Times in the year 2008). With time Jenny Holzer has evolved into a highly respective and recognized artist whose art work now attracts global attention. Today a critic expresses great admiration for her work. New York Times rave that “her work is singular, consistent and relevant. It has developed and has also been influential. It regularly succeeds in taking us deep into the machinations of human frailty and power.” Recent review from The New York Times as stated that her new development of Electronic LED signs is the best they have ever seen of Holzer’s art work and the most spectacular art on display.

[Quotes from Holzer, Quotes from others about Holzer]

In recent time while being interviewed on pbs Art 21 artist Holzer when asked if her truisms series were provocations messages stated that as a young artist she too was unsure as to whether or not her series of work was art or not, but in no way intended for her work to be seen in such light However, what was quiet clear to her as she continued her career as an artist that her work had to be meaningful and true to her viewers. Which is the thoughts behind her latest gallery exhibition of “Lustmord,” in which she states that this piece is for those who are unable to speak for themselves.

[Back to writer—what is my favorite piece of art]

Artisit Jenny Holzer has been described as a contemporary yet conceptual artist in my opinion her work represents both. For example the “Torso,” on a conceptual level represents the unkind manner in which the lives of innocent soldiers are trapped and lost in information and government operations. On a contemporary level the use of LED which electrifies her art work making it more modern and relatable. It is this diversity of her work that makes it captivating and appealing to me and her fans globally.

Part 2 (Summary of Holzer's work of art as it relates to Bell Hooks and Leo Tolstoy views on what art should do for the viewers.)

According to English Professor Bell Hooks in her literature piece entitled “Art on My Mind,” Art as she sees it should in some way bring about decolonization. Decolonization in this sense is the way in which one is compelled to see things from a different perspective after viewing an unusual piece of art. On the other hand writer Leo Tolstoy in one of his excerpt sees art from a completely different perspective. He internalizes art as something that should in fact evoke emotions. In my view Holzer variation of art work certainly meets the requirements of both writers.

Holzer’s “Protect Protect,” fulfills both the idea of Bell Hooks and Leo Tolstoy as to what art should do to us who view it. Bell Hooks writes that “art is something that resembles what we know and we look with received understanding,” meaning that as we view an art piece we should view it with an open mind in order to come away with a feel of appreciation for the work of art as it is presented.(pg.4)

On the other hand Leo Tolstoy who writes that “Art begins when one person, with object of joining another or others to him in one and the same feelings expresses that feeling by certain external indications.” He is suggesting that art begins within the individual’s mind and it is not art until it is transformed into something tangible and relatable. It is consistent with such a concept that Holzer works of art transition from her mental perception into the beauty of Electronic Neon signs that even the ‘average person’ or the art enthusiast alike can appreciate.

In addition to her art work that is projected by Light Emitting Diode (LED); Jenny Holzer at times expresses her creativity through painting. Other times she simply chooses to showcase her softer and gentler artistry in hand sculpted pieces of work. Some of which have been on display at the Whitney Museum of Art here in New York for over twelve years now.   Holzer’s body of art work in my view begins epitomizes the process of creativity; where in it all starts with the individual’s perception, and emotions, that is then manifested into something tangible, and hence when shared  evokes varying emotion in others whether it be positive or negative.