soft & lovely

Artwork: Jenny Holzer from Survival series, San Francisco, 1987

Artwork: Jenny Holzer from Survival series, San Francisco, 1987

“Turn soft & lovely anytime you have a chance”

Jenny Holzer’s truism from her Survival series (1987, San Francisco) seems an appropriate reminder for navigating life with grace, even during difficult times.

However, there’s always a dark undercurrent to Holzer’s work that layers the truism’s message, in this case the message has been interpreted as referring to women through time being encouraged to be deferential and obliging in their behaviour, often simply to survive, instead of being vocal and strident. The double edge meaning can also be a sign for balance—that both softness and stridency is equally effective when the situation calls for it.

Today, I see it as a sign for kindness, to oneself and others. Any chance you get.