7 light emitting diode columns
Text and Language
Tate Collection
Works with images
Works on loan
General Collection
ARTIST ROOMS
National Heritage Memorial Fund
Art Fund
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/jenny-holzer-1307" aria-label="More by Jenny Holzer" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Jenny Holzer</a>
BLUE PURPLE TILT
ARTIST ROOMS
Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008
abstraction
colour
emotions, concepts and ideas
formal qualities
light
non-representational
repetition
text
<p>Holzer started creating text-based works in the late 1970s. These included hundreds of slogans and common sayings expressing many different points of view. <span>BLUE PURPLE TILT</span> repeats messages from her previous works. Other texts are ‘found’ phrases, borrowed from literary and political sources. Holzer said of her LED displays: ‘A great feature of the signs is their capacity to move, which I love because it’s so much like the spoken word: you can emphasise things; you can roll and pause which is the kinetic equivalent to inflection in the voice.’</p><p><em>Gallery label, April 2022</em></p>
installation 7 light emitting diode columns
19 November 2009 – 21 February 2010
2010-02-21
19 November 2009 – 21 February 2010
2010-02-21
2009-11-19
The Lightbox (Woking, UK)
http://www.thelightbox.org/
2009-11-19
ARTIST ROOMS 2009: Jenny Holzer
Loan-out
27 March 2010 – 15 May 2010
2010-05-15
27 March 2010 – 15 May 2010
2010-05-15
2010-03-27
Talbot Rice Gallery (Edinburgh, UK)
http://www.trg.ed.ac.uk/
2010-03-27
ARTIST ROOMS 2010: Jenny Holzer
Loan-out
11 February 2011 – 15 April 2012
2012-04-15
11 February 2011 – 15 April 2012
2012-04-15
2011-02-11
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2011-02-11
Jenny Holzer
Collection based display
27 May 2017 – 10 September 2017
2017-09-10
27 May 2017 – 10 September 2017
2017-09-10
2017-05-27
mac Birmingham (Birmingham, UK)
2017-05-27
ARTIST ROOMS 2017: Jenny Holzer
Loan-out
16 July 2018 – 7 July 2019
2019-07-07
16 July 2018 – 7 July 2019
2019-07-07
2018-07-16
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2018-07-16
ARTIST ROOMS Jenny Holzer
Collection based display
11 April 2022 – 5 June 2023
2023-06-05
11 April 2022 – 5 June 2023
2023-06-05
2022-04-11
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2022-04-11
Joseph Beuys and Jenny Holzer
Collection based display
14 June 2024 – 29 September 2024
2024-09-29
14 June 2024 – 29 September 2024
2024-09-29
2024-06-14
Attenborough Arts Centre (Leicester, UK)
2024-06-14
Jenny Holzer
Loan-out
BLUE PURPLE TILT
Overall display dimensions variable
object, each: 4190 × 136 × 136 mm
<a href="/search?gid=999999788" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">ARTIST ROOMS</a>
Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the <a href="/search?gid=999999967" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">National Heritage Memorial Fund</a> and the <a href="/search?gid=999999968" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Art Fund</a> 2008
<div class="text">
<p>
<i>BLUE PURPLE TILT </i>consists of seven tall and narrow LED (light-emitting diode) signs leaning against the gallery wall at an equal distance from one another. The top and bottom ends of the signs are bevelled so that they can be neatly mounted to the wall at the same angle. Vertical strips of identical light-blue text simultaneously scroll up the seven signs from the bottom to the top until they disappear from view, followed by a new message. The messages scroll up the signs at varying speeds and rhythms and occasionally flash, making them difficult to read. The texts also run up the back of the double-sided signs in red, purple or blue, but these are only perceptible as a colourful glow cast onto the supporting wall and floor. </p>
<p>The texts are drawn from Holzer’s previous works, including <i>Truisms </i>(1977–9) (see Tate <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/holzer-truisms-t03959" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>T03959</span></a>) such as ‘ABUSE OF POWER COMES AS NO SURPRISE’, and the more emotional <i>Laments</i> (1988–9), for example ‘I CAN MAKE WOMEN’S BREASTS WEEP’. All of the messages used in <i>BLUE PURPLE TILT </i>are ‘found’ phrases, originally appropriated from myriad literary, poetic and public sources. Holzer explains:</p>
<p class="cttext">
</p><blockquote>There can be a deliberate scrambling, or at least a heaping of many messages. Sometimes the messages are conflicting, and other times the language and the messages will be blunt and to the point. I routinely invite the reader to sort out the offerings and complete the thoughts, and to echo, amplify or shrink from the feeling that the work elicits.<br/>(Quoted in Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 2010, p.119.)</blockquote>
<p>Holzer has exhibited her text-based work outside in public spaces since the 1980s. Her work has ranged from pasting posters in urban environments to projecting messages onto prominent buildings in countries around the world. The LED signage of <i>BLUE PURPLE TILT</i> makes reference to the technology used in modern public advertising and warning signs. Holzer has said that having viewers consider the uses of technology to attract attention has been a particular motivation for her in selecting this medium:</p>
<p class="cttext">
</p><blockquote>The move to electronic technology had to do with my needing to be where people look. I thought I should present as many hard germane subjects large, loud and well as what’s done for celebrity gossip, concerts, products and the sometimes too cautious reporting of the news.<br/>(Quoted in Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 2010, p.120.)</blockquote>
<p>As technology develops and expands, LED signage will eventually be superseded by different modes of communication. Anticipating the potential obsolescence of the LED, Holzer has specified that she wishes <i>BLUE PURPLE TILT</i> to preserve its ‘LED appearance’, even if the work is adapted in future years to suit more contemporary technology. </p>
<p>
<b>Further reading</b>
<br/>Michael Auping, <i>Jenny Holzer</i>, New York 1992.<br/>
<i>Jenny Holzer: Protect Protect</i>, exhibition catalogue, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago 2010. </p>
<p>Florence Ritter<br/>January 2012</p>
</div>

Summary
2012-06-22T00:00:00
summary
SHORT_TEXT
<p>In her reference to everyday experiences and emotions, Holzer’s witty and provocative slogans offer a critical reflection on modern society. 'BLUE PURPLE TILT' collates messages from the artist’s career, charting her development from the early 'Truisms' and 'Survival' series, including pithy texts such as "PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT", through to the anonymous declarations of the 'Inflammatory Essays' and personal musings of 'Lamentations'. Seven luminous LED signs are used to transmit her texts, emanating brightly and enveloping the viewer. The staging of her messages is central to Holzer’s practice, and serves to emphasise how language shapes our cultural environments.</p>

Online caption
2009-04-16T00:00:00
online-caption
ONLINE_CAPTION
abstraction colour emotions, concepts and ideas formal qualities light non-representational repetition text