Chinese speakers can now benefit from American artist Jenny Holzer‘s pearls of wisdom as she presents Light Streams, a collection of new works and past pieces translated into Mandarin for an emerging audience.
Holzer began her career in the 1970s with poster messages, graduating to electronic signs as technology evolved. Taken from three series from the ’70s and ’80s – Truisms, Living, and Survival – Light Streams‘ aphorisms are transmitted in both English and Mandarin via two media: flashed on LED signs and carved on benches. The central work from which this exhibition takes its name is Holzer’s biggest to date, featuring 25 sculptural LED displays programmed to pulse in an enlightening manner, and represents an atypically showy delivery from the artist’s normal minimalism. Among the messages translated for her Chinese audience are “Money Creates Taste” and “Don’t Place Too Much Trust In Experts” – both pieces of advice are communicated via classic monumental marble benches in complete contrast to the modern LED signs. Pearl Lam gallery in Hong Kong is hosting, and Light Streams will be illuminating visitors until 2 November.
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 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
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 Kong, 2013
© 2013 Jenny Holzer,
member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Photo: Collin LaFleche
Truisms: 自由是奢侈品而非必需品, 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
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 Kong, 2013
© 2013 Jenny Holzer,
member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Photo: Collin LaFleche
