As part of the Beckett Centenary Festival at the Barbican, American artist Jenny Holzer presents a series of light projections on the Barbican and buildings around London including City Hall and Somerset House. Writings from Beckett and a selection of works by celebrated poets, are cast onto well-known London landmarks, allowing light and text to flow over the cityscape, creating an extraordinary visual experience.

Holzer rose to prominence with her text series Truisms (1977-79). In 1990 she was the first woman artist to represent America with a solo exhibition at the Venice Biennale. Her installation won the prestigious Leone d’Oro award.

The public dimension is integral to Holzer’s work, and for a decade, light projections have been a critical component for her multi-disciplinary practice. She has realized projections on buildings, mountains and rivers throughout Europe and North and South America. During these events, the writing is in constant motion, an effect akin to credits rolling at the end of a film. The projections for London will continue Holzer’s long-term undertaking to engage compelling locations, architecture, environments and passers-by with words.