Artists Space

Eating Friends

January 9 – February 13, 1982

Jenny Holzer and Peter Nadin's installation entitled Eating Friends will consist of two panels of text and six panels of abstractly rendered body parts. Each panel measures three feet by five feet, is made of copper and will be installed directly on the wall. The elegance and the coolness of the copper panels is in contrast to their content, which describe and illustrate body actions and instinctual, emotional and physical reactions. Both the images and the texts originally appeared in issue #7 of Top Stories, published in 1981.

Pickle green background with black text that reads, "CHANGE IS THE BASIS OF HISTORY, THE PROOF OF VIGOR. THE OLD IS SOILED AND DISGUSTING BY NATURE. STALE FOOD IS REPELLENT, MONOGAMOUS LOVE BREEDS CONTEMPT, SENILITY CRIPPLES THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS TOO POWERFUL TOO LONG. UPHEAVAL IS DESIRABLE BECAUSE FRESH, UNTAINTED GROUPS SEIZE OPPORTUNITY. VIOLENT OVERTHROW IS NICE IF THE SITUATION IS INTOLERABLE. SLOW MODIFICATION IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TRANSFORMED BEFORE THEY NOTICE AND RESIST. THE DECADENT AND THE POWERFUL CHAMPION CONTINUITY. "NOTHING ESSENTIAL CHANGES." THAT IS A MYTH. IT WILL BE REFUTED. THE NECESSARY BIRTH CONVULSIONS WILL BE TRIGGERED. ACTION WILL BRING THE EVIDENCE TO YOUR DOORSTEP."
Jenny Holzer. Poster, 1982. [Pickle green background with black text that reads, "CHANGE IS THE BASIS OF HISTORY, THE PROOF OF VIGOR. THE OLD IS SOILED AND DISGUSTING BY NATURE. STALE FOOD IS REPELLENT, MONOGAMOUS LOVE BREEDS CONTEMPT, SENILITY CRIPPLES THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS TOO POWERFUL TOO LONG. UPHEAVAL IS DESIRABLE BECAUSE FRESH, UNTAINTED GROUPS SEIZE OPPORTUNITY. VIOLENT OVERTHROW IS NICE IF THE SITUATION IS INTOLERABLE. SLOW MODIFICATION IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TRANSFORMED BEFORE THEY NOTICE AND RESIST. THE DECADENT AND THE POWERFUL CHAMPION CONTINUITY. "NOTHING ESSENTIAL CHANGES." THAT IS A MYTH. IT WILL BE REFUTED. THE NECESSARY BIRTH CONVULSIONS WILL BE TRIGGERED. ACTION WILL BRING THE EVIDENCE TO YOUR DOORSTEP."]

Holzer and Nadin have worked collaboratively as well as individually on projects which have taken the form of plaques and posters on NYC streets, books, direct mailings, window displays, as well as exhibition in commercial and non-commercial galleries. By utilizing a variety of vehicles to distribute their work and by placing it in contexts not normally associated with art, Holzer and Nadin are attempting to undermine the traditional methods by which art is experienced.

Cerulean blue background with black text that reads,"REJOICE! OUR TIMES ARE INTOLERABLE. TAKE COURAGE FOR THE WORST IS A HARBINGER OF THE BEST. ONLY DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE CAN PRECIPITATE THE OVERTHROW OF OPPRESSORS. THE OLD AND CORRUPT MUST BE LAID TO WASTE BEFORE THE JUST CAN TRIUMPH. OPPOSITION IDENTIFIES AND ISOLATES THE ENEMY. CONFLICT OF INTEREST MUST BE SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS. DO NOT SUPPORT PALLIATIVE GESTURES; THEY CONFUSE THE PEOPLE AND DELAY THE INEVITABLE CONFRONTATION. DELAY THE INEVITABLE CONFRONTATION. DELAY IS NOT TOLERATED FOR IT JEOPARDIZES THE WELL-BEING OF THE MAJORITY. CONTRADICTION WILL BE HEIGHTENED. THE RECKONING WILL BE HASTENED BY THE STAGING OF SEED DISTURBANCES. THE APOCALYPSE WILL BLOSSOM."
Jenny Holzer. Poster, 1982. [Cerulean blue background with black text that reads,"REJOICE! OUR TIMES ARE INTOLERABLE. TAKE COURAGE FOR THE WORST IS A HARBINGER OF THE BEST. ONLY DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE CAN PRECIPITATE THE OVERTHROW OF OPPRESSORS. THE OLD AND CORRUPT MUST BE LAID TO WASTE BEFORE THE JUST CAN TRIUMPH. OPPOSITION IDENTIFIES AND ISOLATES THE ENEMY. CONFLICT OF INTEREST MUST BE SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS. DO NOT SUPPORT PALLIATIVE GESTURES; THEY CONFUSE THE PEOPLE AND DELAY THE INEVITABLE CONFRONTATION. DELAY THE INEVITABLE CONFRONTATION. DELAY IS NOT TOLERATED FOR IT JEOPARDIZES THE WELL-BEING OF THE MAJORITY. CONTRADICTION WILL BE HEIGHTENED. THE RECKONING WILL BE HASTENED BY THE STAGING OF SEED DISTURBANCES. THE APOCALYPSE WILL BLOSSOM."]
Magenta pink background with black text that reads, "YOU GET AMAZING SENSATIONS FROM GUNS. YOU GET RESULTS FROM GUNS. MAN IS AN AGRESSIVE ANIMAL; YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD OFFENSE AND A GOOD DEFENSE. TOO MANY CITIZENS THINK THEY ARE HELPLESS. THEY LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE AUTHORITIES AND THIS CAUSES CORRUPTION. RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD GO BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. IT IS YOUR LIFE SO TAKE CONTROL AND FEEL VITAL. THERE MAY BE SOME ACCIDENTS ALONG THE PATH TO SELF-EXPRESSION AND SELF DETERMINATION. SOME INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL BE HURT. HOWEVER, G-U-N SPELLS PRIDE TO THE STRONG, SAFETY TO THE WEAK AND HOPE TO THE HOPELESS. GUNS MAKE WRONG RIGHT FAST."
Jenny Holzer. Poster, 1982. [Magenta pink background with black text that reads, "YOU GET AMAZING SENSATIONS FROM GUNS. YOU GET RESULTS FROM GUNS. MAN IS AN AGRESSIVE ANIMAL; YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD OFFENSE AND A GOOD DEFENSE. TOO MANY CITIZENS THINK THEY ARE HELPLESS. THEY LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE AUTHORITIES AND THIS CAUSES CORRUPTION. RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD GO BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. IT IS YOUR LIFE SO TAKE CONTROL AND FEEL VITAL. THERE MAY BE SOME ACCIDENTS ALONG THE PATH TO SELF-EXPRESSION AND SELF DETERMINATION. SOME INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL BE HURT. HOWEVER, G-U-N SPELLS PRIDE TO THE STRONG, SAFETY TO THE WEAK AND HOPE TO THE HOPELESS. GUNS MAKE WRONG RIGHT FAST."]
Gritty street wall background with a white poster on it with black text that reads, "ABUSE OF POWER SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE / ALIENATION CAN PRODUCE ECCENTRICS OR REVOLUTIONARIES / AN ELITE IS INEVITABLE / ANGER OR HATE CAN BE A USEFUL MOTIVATING FORCE / ANY SURPLUS IS IMMORAL / DISGUST IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO MOST SITUATIONS / EVERYONE
Jenny Holzer. Maxim Poster, 1982. [Gritty street wall background with a white poster on it with black text that reads, "ABUSE OF POWER SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE / ALIENATION CAN PRODUCE ECCENTRICS OR REVOLUTIONARIES / AN ELITE IS INEVITABLE / ANGER OR HATE CAN BE A USEFUL MOTIVATING FORCE / ANY SURPLUS IS IMMORAL / DISGUST IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO MOST SITUATIONS / EVERYONE'S WORK IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT / EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE DESERVE SPECIAL CONCESSIONS / FAITHFULNESS IS A SOCIAL NOT A BIOLOGICAL LAW / FREEDOM IS A LUXURY NOT A NECESSITY / GOVERNMENT IS A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE / HUMANISM IS OBSOLETE / IDEALS ARE EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY CONVENTIONAL GOALS / INHERITANCE MUST BE ABOLISHED / KILLING IS UNAVOIDABLE BUT IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF / LABOR IS A LIFE-DESTROYING ACTIVITY / MONEY CREATES TASTE / MORALS ARE FOR LITTLE PEOPLE / MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FIT TO RULE THEMSELVES / MOSTLY YOU SHOULD MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS / MUCH WAS DECIDED BEFORE YOU WERE BORN / MURDER HAS ITS SEXUAL SIDE / PAIN CAN BE A VERY POSITIVE THING / PEOPLE ARE NUTS IF THEY THINK THEY CONTROL THEIR LIVES / PEOPLE WHO DON'T WORK WITH THEIR HANDS ARE PARASITES / PEOPLE WHO GO CRAZY ARE TOO SENSITIVE / PEOPLE WON'T BEHAVE IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE / PLAYING IT SAFE CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE / PRIVATE OWNERSHIP IS AN INVITATION TO DISASTER / ROMANTIC LOVE WAS INVENTED TO MANIPULATE WOMEN / SELFISHNESS IS THE MOST BASIC MOTIVATION / SEPARATISM IS THE WAY TO A NEW  BEGINNING / SEX DIFFERENCES ARE HERE TO STAY / STARVATION IS NATURE'S WAY / STERLIZIZATION IS OFTEN JUSTIFIED / STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BREED / TECHNOLOGY WILL MAKE OR BRAKE US / THE FAMILY IS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME / THE LAND BELONGS TO NO ONE / TIMIDITY IS LAUGHABLE / TORTURE IS HORRIBLE AND EXCITING / TRADING A LIFE FOR A LIFE IS FAIR ENOUGH / UNIQUE THINGS MUST BE  THE MOST VALUABLE / YOU DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE / YOU MUST REMEMBER YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE."]

Eating Friends Exhibition Card

Eating Friends Press Release

Programming at Artists Space is partially supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jerome Foundation.

    Four lined up rectangular panels jutting out from the gallery walls.
    Eating Friends. Installation view, Artists Space, 1982. Photo courtesy of Anne Turyn. [Four lined up rectangular panels jutting out from the gallery walls.]