Jenny Holzer & Installation Art

Shayla Fiscus

ARTZ 406: Gallery Practices

Chapter 3 Prompt: 1/27/17

Prompt #3:

n  Research installations by artists such as Kiki Smith, Bill Viola, or Jenny Holzer. How does the artwork interact with the physical space it occupies? Argue for or against the ideas and principles behind installation art.

Photo Credit:

© Jenny Holzer. ARS, NY and DACS, London 2017. Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio

Laments 1988-89, Dia Art Foundation, New York, 1989

Image ID 12000

Conceptual art, site specific art, words, letters, text

          The installation work of Jenny Holzer invades sought-out environments and utilizes language, communication, and technology to occupy a place and speak within the space for viewers to come upon. The works transmit an energy of voice through language, screaming out to its audience in a powerful way. The installation becomes the space in various ways either by subtly blending into its surroundings or vividly raising the voice of the work to ‘become’ on a grander scale. Artsy describes Holzer, “Whether questioning consumerism, describing torture, or lamenting death and disease, her use of language (sometimes mistaken for advertising when installed in public spaces) is designed to agitate and disturb”. The artist takes the art to the public domain and puts messages in the face of the world for people to think critically and conceptually. The installation and mass production processes allows the art to travel the globe expanding the audience and chance to happen upon the work.

          Installation art is an important genre of art, which identifies the environment and space it occupies, site-specific, to either transform or camouflage with the space in a 3-Dimensional process. Installation art is utilized within confined spaces as well as in other forms of the environment such as: public art, land art, and intervention art. The installation works of artists may be permanent or temporary but the conceptual approach and experience of the space and place is key in the process as the onlooker. This process of art allows the viewer to interact with the art more and identify with the art better. The art of installation is a strong medium and allows the experience of art to come alive and become meaningful.  

Websites to Research:

https://www.artsy.net/artist/jenny-holzer

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-holzer-jenny.htm

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/37309?locale=en

Faculty Exhibition Considerations/Observations: Functional, Formal, Conceptual, Visitor

Shayla Fiscus

ARTZ 406: Gallery Professional Practices  

Analyze Faculty Exhibition -1/27/17

Functional Considerations: This exhibition brings forth many different mediums and art techniques for the viewer to engage in and bare witness too. The faculty show gives a wide spectrum of mediums including watercolor painting, oil painting, new media, video, drawing with collage, printmaking with collage, sculpture, ceramics, and installation. The traffic flow created in the gallery has transformed the space for its audience to circle throughout the space and to be able to fully engage in the work on display. The materials and techniques used to create the many works ranges from fragile to strong and durable. The floor plan allows for a wide range of audiences to come in and experience the space and the typography is easily visible.

Formal Considerations: The colors and installation of the art works displayed within the exhibit creates a visual unity of elements and components. The powerful use of color in many of the artworks exhibited is balanced in such a way to pull the viewer throughout the space, motivating the eye to continue to explore. The rich use of installation overpowers the environment and draws upon curiosity for the viewer to experience and explore. The typography used within the exhibition space is not overpowering the actual art and delicately compliments the work as a counterpart of creation. Having text labels available of the faculty studio artists’ works allows the student body and audience to learn more about the works on display.

Conceptual Considerations: The overall message developed within this exhibition is how to channel the ability to become consciously aware of your materials; in such a way to masterly adapt, manipulate and perform art making skills and techniques that identify aspects of a commonality. The commonality shared among these works educates the viewer to think critically, explore, determine, and identify with the art and its processes. Each work individually represents a technique and skill that has become mastered to an extent within the artist and transposes outward from the art, received by the viewer experience. The faculty exhibition not only reflects art work but educates the viewer into a mindful experience of the environment and its influences.

Visitor Considerations: I feel the installation artwork and the new media artwork may be difficult for those who are younger than 20 and older than 26. These are experiences that are identified within the art community but not all may understand how to interpret or respect these works. I think the art works that rely heavily on concept can be difficult to determine and for some uneasy to wrap the mind around. The faculty chose works of art that together build up a strong collective body of artworks. This exhibition is designed to be enjoyed independently or communally with others. It provides insight into the minds of our faculty studio professors which in return is beneficial to the student body and community. If I could change anything within the gallery space it would be to make the gallery larger, for the viewer to actively explore the space more. 

NSG: Faculty Exhibition Photos 2017

NSG/Faculty Exhibition Photos 2017