Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise

Jenny Holzer, artist

born 1950

Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise, circa 1984

Portfolio/Series title: the series Truisms T-shirts

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: screen print; cotton

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 55.2 x 71.9 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 21 3/4 x 28 5/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Alfred Willis

Accession number: 2000.0029

On display: Marshall Balcony

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Images

Label texts

Bold Women

Holzer’s t-shirt reads “Abuse of power comes as no surprise.” The phrase simultaneously deflates and amplifies the significance of power being abused. Holzer’s use of materials such as t-shirts and printed flyers meant to be glued on telephone poles points to the urgent nature of the messages.

Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book

Jenny Holzer is known for her “Truisms,” which are statements that she displays on billboards, gallery walls, and even t-shirts.

Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book

Jenny Holzer is known for her “Truisms,” which are statements that she displays on billboards, gallery walls, and even t-shirts.

Exhibition Label:
"Printed Art and Social Radicalism," Jun-2002, Stephen Goddard
Jenny Holzer’s medium is language, and her truisms have appeared on moving message boards, on printed paper, on carved stone benches, as well as on t-shirts.