Truism 1977

This sheet of paper, or maybe it's a print, by Jenny Holzer, presents a series of statements, printed in a straightforward, almost clinical manner. I can't help but think about the artist generating these phrases, one after another, each a provocation, a challenge, or an observation about society, power, and belief. Maybe she was sitting at a desk, typing away, or perhaps these sayings came to her in fragments over time, scribbled on scraps of paper before being collected and arranged. I imagine Holzer sifting through language like a painter mixes colors, searching for the right combination of words to ignite thought and emotion. The statements are truisms, but they also feel deeply personal, which is interesting. They seem to contradict each other, which shows how complex the world is! Holzer’s work reminds us that art is a conversation, not a monologue. It's an invitation to question, to reflect, and to engage with the world around us in new and meaningful ways.