Barbara Kruger, Untitled (You kill time), 1983, black and white photograph, 72 x 49 in. (182.9 x 124.5 cm.) © Barbara Kruger, Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt
From the 10th of February, London’s Skarstedt gallery will be showing an exhibition of American artist Barbara Kruger’s seminal early works; known for her consistent use of black and white imagery, red frames, and bold Futura type, Kruger’s unmistakable style is recognizable anywhere.
The exhibition will feature a collection of works selected from the 1980s, exploring themes including consumerist culture, sexuality, and the structure of power in society. By subverting the imagery and tools used by mass media, Kruger initially set out to challenge the aspirations of modern American culture and society:
“In my work, I try to question the seemingly natural appearance of images through the textual commentary which accompanies them”.
Contributing significantly to the discourse of such themes as Conceptual Art, Semiotics and Feminism, Kruger’s ground-breaking works of the 1980s helped earn her a place among the leading artists of today.
With her provocative captions drawing attention to the futility and banality of modern life (e.g. ‘You kill time’, ‘Your life is a perpetual insomnia’), Kruger’s early works remain unsettlingly relevant despite their conception over three decades ago.
Barbara Kruger: Early Works is at Skarstedt, London, from 10 February – 11 April 2015
Barbara Kruger, Untitled (You make history when you do business), 1981, black and white photograph, 72 x 48 in. (182.9 x 121.9 cm.) © Barbara Kruger, Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt
Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your life is a perpetual insomnia) 1981, gelatin silver print laid down on cardboard in artist's frame, 72 1/8 x 46 1/2 in. (183.2 x 118.1 cm.) © Barbara Kruger, Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt