Barbara Kruger, Circus

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“I work with pictures and words because they have the ability to determine who we are and who we aren’t,” states American conceptual artist Barbara Kruger, known for her impactful works since the 1980s. Often designed for public spaces, her art critiques individual and societal issues, war, culture, advertising, and commercialism. Using large, striking lettering, she transforms characters into images, allowing language and meaning to be experienced spatially. Kruger describes spaces filled with text as “walk-in spaces of thinking” and aims to create powerful statements through her installations. Her work “Circus,” created for the Schirn in 2010, envelops the Rotunda with black and white text covering walls, floor, and ceiling, leaving a profound impression on viewers. Kruger’s installations utilize images and texts from mass media, advertising, and consumer culture to address themes of individual and societal identity, war, violence, popular culture, and commerce. Her distinctive aesthetic and formal clarity provoke thought-provoking and sharp commentary on gender relations, social, and political issues. The installation was on display at Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, from December 15, 2010, to January 30, 2011.