Jenny Holzer, For SAAM, 2007, electronic LED array with white diodes, 336 x 48 in. (853.4 x 121.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2008.3, © 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Copied
Artwork Details
- Title
- For SAAM
- Artist
- Date
- 2007
- Location
- Dimensions
- 336 x 48 in. (853.4 x 121.9 cm)
- Copyright
- © 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
- Credit Line
- Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
- Mediums Description
- electronic LED array with white diodes
- Classifications
- Object Number
- 2008.3
Artwork Description
Since the 1970s, the artist has created public art, sculptures, and projections that present bold phrases out of context. These snippets of advice, cautions, and desires are stated as if self-evident, despite being subjective and debatable. Holzer's work encourages us to ask, "Who is speaking and in whose interest?" when ideas are pushed on the public but we do not know from where or why.
The texts presented here are written in different voices and come from four series that span decades of Holzer's career. The words appear to swirl and rotate at varying speeds as little lights across the column turn on and off. This constant movement rewards viewers who slow down to piece together what For SAAM has to say.
Related Posts
Conservation07/26/2018
Media Conservator Dan Finn addresses the challenges of conserving Jenny’s Holzer’s sculpture For SAAM, a 29-foot column that projects animated phrases onto the cylinder using LED lights.
Miyah Powe
MTO Intern
Sculpture11/09/2007
There was a huge crane outside the museum and a large truck that contained Holzer's For SAAM, her 2007 conceptual site-specific sculpture. The twenty-eight-foot piece was protected by a long crate.
Howard Kaplan
Writer