SOFTER: Jenny Holzer at Blenheim Palace

About

Holzer is the fourth artist to take on the challenge to fill the Palace's sumptuous eighteenth-century interiors and grounds with contemporary art. She will be creating new, site-specific work, directly addressing the Palace's military and political history in relation to themes which have figured prominently in her practice since the 1980s: power, conflict and activism.

As one of America's most loved living artists, Holzer is provocative and outspoken, working with language to question what is presented as truth in everyday life. For nearly four decades, her work has sought out different ways of infiltrating public space and public consciousness, starting with her Truisms series, which included the much-quoted 'Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise'. Over the years, her words have been presented on anonymous posters around New York, carved into fine stone and shone day-bright in LED light around the world.

The exhibition will use augmented reality to explore the potential of the virtual space. This interest in new technologies and art will run through the show, which will also feature Holzer's well-known work with LED signs, beaming into the Baroque architecture of the Palace. Additionally, Holzer is developing large-scale light projections that will transform the Palace grounds after dark in a series of night-time public events.

This is the fourth exhibition of contemporary art hosted at the historic Palace, following Ai Weiwei, Lawrence Weiner and Michelangelo Pistoletto, and continues Blenheim Art Foundation’s commitment to exposing new audiences to contemporary art by showcasing the most important artists working today within one of England’s most treasured landmarks.

Projected onto the historic façade of the palace and the nearby island, Holzer's text-based light works will be shown during free evening events for 12 nights between 28 September and 10 October

Visitors will experience the projections at the palace alongside further interventions by Holzer including her engraved stonework, as well as a new installation using black mondo grass. A bespoke mobile app developed for the exhibition will allow users to superimpose digital artworks onto their surroundings, creating a virtual space for the exhibition.

This one-of-a-kind autumn outing offers the rare chance to see Blenheim Palace illuminated at night.

Evening access is on the following dates with light projections starting at 7:15 pm.
 

Thursday 28th September 

Friday 29th September

Sunday 1st October

Monday 2nd October

Tuesday 3rd October

Wednesday 4th October

Thursday 5th October

Friday 6th October

Saturday 7th October

Sunday 8th October

Monday 9th October

Tuesday 10th October