ARTIST ROOMS: Jenny Holzer
Installations & Artwork

Works by world-renowned conceptual artist, Jenny Holzer, is on display at The Lightbox as part of a new nationally owned collection of postwar and contemporary art titled ARTIST ROOMS.

This collection was established through one of the largest and most imaginative gifts of art ever made to museums in Britain by Anthony d'Offay, with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund and the Scottish and British Governments. Throughout 2009, 18 museums and galleries across the UK will have shown over 30 ARTIST ROOMS from the collection created by the dealer and collector, Anthony d’Offay, and acquired by the nation in February 2008.

Anthony d’Offay’s guiding principle for the creation of ARTIST ROOMS was the concept of individual rooms devoted to particular artists. ARTIST ROOMS has been devised to take those displays beyond the collection’s owners, Tate and National Galleries of Scotland, and to reach and inspire new audiences across the country, particularly of young people.

As a selected gallery for part of this wonderful collection The Lightbox gallery and museum is proud to have its Main Gallery illuminated by the stunning BLUE PURPLE TILT, 2007 which has been especially created for by Jenny Holzer for ARTIST ROOMS. BLUE PURPLE TILT, 2007 is a 4m high light installation with panels each measuring 3810x137x1270cm creates an impressive visual presence in the double-height main gallery of the Marks Barfield Architects’ designed building that holds the prestigious Art Fund Prize 2008. The exhibition also has two large paintings by the American artist entitled Protect, Protect, 2007, and Shape the Battlespace, 2007, in which Holzer presents declassified American military documents relating to the war in Iraq. Both pieces are oil on linen and are large scale, each measuring 2007 x 2597cm.

The Lightbox Director Marilyn Scott says: “It is a tremendous coup for us, a regional, young gallery, and one of only two chosen in the South East, to be included in this highly influential touring collection. Holzer’s dynamic thought-provoking work aligns well with the creative, inspirational and educational programmes which The Lightbox, that opened less than two years ago, aims to bring to its various target audiences throughout the year.”

ARTIST ROOMS is jointly owned and managed by National Galleries of Scotland and Tate on behalf of the nation. It has materially strengthened Tate’s ability to represent some of the most important art of the latter half of the twentieth century, and helps establish Scotland as a world-class destination for contemporary art.

The Art Fund is giving £250,000 per year to ARTIST ROOMS on Tour with The Art Fund supported by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government are giving £175,000 over three years.

This is the first time a national collection has been shared and shown simultaneously across the UK, and has only been made possible through the exceptional generosity of independent charity The Art Fund and, in Scotland, of the Scottish Government.