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Conceptual artist Jenny Holzer's installation of fifteen signs made of LED lights are located in a public meeting place within the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. The signs ask viewers to think about how words and ideas impact our society. The texts are taken from three series by the artist: 'Truisms', 'Living', and 'Survival.' This artwork explores themes of power, violence, war, and death.
This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Convention and Trade Center.Label
"Selections from the 'Truism', 'Living' and 'Survival' Series" is an installation of eleven electronic message boards by Jenny Holzer. Installed on the surrounding balcony walls of the Meeting Place, Holzer's "words as image" confront the viewer entering the space from Freeway Park. Holzer began using words as her art in 1977. The truisms, unsuspecting messages delivered through familiar commercial techniques such as billboards, posters and electronic message boards, have made thousands of people in the street and public spaces from Times Square to Las Vegas to Paris stop and think twice.
Jenny has made outdoor posters, electronic billboards, and stone benches with brief, punchy messages. Since 1983 Holzer's medium has been LED (light emitting diode) machines-- black boxes across which flashing red, green and yellow letters appear and disappear. Her aphorisms and mottos reflect upon the spectrum of viewpoints influencing our society and culture. The selected truisms will "stream, fat-shadow, quill and color" as they appear through a quasi-infinite, randomly selected computer program. The text will be in English as well as several foreign languages adaptable to international conventions.