Searching for the soul of the city
CityPoem 25 - Goslar
By Hans Karssenberg
24-12-2006 /views: 1988 in past 12 months.
Another CityPoem by projection artist Jenny Holzer. This time in Goslar, a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Photo: Mac1961
Goslar CityPoem: Blue Spike III, Jenny Holzer
Jenny Holzer made this work in the Kaiserring / Mönchehaus Museum of Goslar. The “Blue Spike III” is a LED Installation. It is a text that Jenny Holzer wrote in 2002. The full text is printed below, the text in the picture is bold.
See also: www.kaiserring.net
See also: www.kaiserring.net
And see Jenny Holzer CityPoems in the London cityscape - on Inspiring Cities
The full text by Jenny Holzer:
I LOOK ALONG YOUR ARM FROM THE WRIST TO THE SHOULDER BLADE. I FOLLOW A SWELL OF BLOOD TO A RISE OF BONE. YOUR LANDSCAPE IS DAMP IN HOLLOWS BETWEEN BROWNED HILLS.
I READ YOUR SKIN. THEN YOU LOCK THUMBS ABOVE YOUR HEAD TO SHOW WHITE HOLES WHERE ARMS FIND THE TORSO. YOU RAISE BOTH HANDS AND OPEN YOUR RIBS.
I FORGET YOUR HANDS WHEN I MOVE AWAY. IT IS INDECENT TO RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY AND WHAT IT DID IN A PALM OR FINGERNAILS. I WANT YOU FRESHLY MADE.
VEINS SHOW ON YOUR RIBCAGE. EXEMPT FROM SYMMETRY CREEKS BRANCH FREELY BUT YOUR RIBS RETURN TO EACH OTHER AND YOUR HANDS HANG OPPOSITE WHEN STILL.
THOSE RIBS ARE TOO LIGHT TO KEEP YOU. THAT TORSO IS BUILT NARROWLY OF SHARK CARTILAGE OR SHOE PLASTIC. SLIGHTNESS MAY COME FROM YOUTH OR BY DESIGN.
I WORRY ABOUT LIFE IN A THIN CHEST. YOU ARE BEGINNING TO HAVE BREASTS AND I LOOK AT YOU AHEAD OF THE OTHERS.
INSIDE THE SHIRT YOU ARE CLOVEN.
YOU ARE PAST THE NIPPLE ONLY PHASE. WITH NO APPREHENSION YOU GREATEN. YOU REPORT TENDERNESS THEN ARE QUIET.
BLUSH BACKS YOUR ARMS WITH A BARE RED. GOOD STUDENT OF YOURSELF YOU DO NOT SEE WHAT OTHERS CAN AS THEY TRAIL. YOU ARE EASY TO TRACK AND FUN TO HUNT.
YOUR NECK SEEMS SHORT ABOVE DRAWN LEGS UNTIL THE THROAT GROWS AGAIN IN ONE OF ITS FREQUENT ITERATIONS OF SELF. FROM A FARMER´S HABIT IMAGINE AN ANIMAL GIVING BIRTH TO BE IMPROVED. I PAUSE AT YOUR NAPE WITH ITS FAIR CHEVRON INDICATING THOUGHT.
DOWN THE SPINE YOUR RIBS SPRING SOFTLY. EACH SPACE BETWEEN THEM IS THE SHE LOVES ME SHE LOVES ME NOT DITCH EMPTYING INTO BELLY.
YOU STRECH FRAMING YOUR STOMACH. THE NAVEL ARCS. HAIR COMES ERECT IN THE CHILL.
FITNESS PROTECTS YOUR BELLY FROM ALL BUT CATASTROPHE. YOU EXPECT NONE. YOU WERE CAUTIOUS ONCE DISPLAYING JUST CONTOUR BUT HERE IS BALD ANNOUNCEMENT.
I GO TO THE HIPS NOT OPEN THE BONES STILL FOLDED.
YOU ARE RUMPED AND SWAY BACKED LIKE THE FAMILY WOMEN. THERE IS A LEDGE BEHIND YOU ON WHICH TO BALANCE ADMIRATION.
WHEN VERY YOUNG YOU MASTURBATED NEAR ME. I DID NOT STOP YOU. ALL ALONG DESIRE HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE. YOU ARE DISCREET THEN FLAMBOYANT NEARING SEX WITH SOMEONE TO BE KNOWN.
I LOOK FROM LEGS TO GENITALS THAT ARE MATURE IN COMPLEX SHADOW FOLD. I HAD NOT SEEN HOW YOU ARE MADE. YOU ARE VIVID.
YOU HAVE SHAVED YOUR LEGS. YOU ARE PAST HAVING MY HANDS RUN OVER AS THEY DID TO LEARN YOU OR TO REGISTER FEVER.
IF I MOVED IN A SUSPECT CADENCE YOU SIGNALED ME LOST. MY LEGS WERE SMOOTHED AFTER SEX WHEN I WAS A CHILD. I HAVE NOT RAPED YOU ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD BE FAMILIAR ENOUGH IF I REMEMBER THE FAMILY HABIT.
YOU DO NOT IMAGINE MUCH UP YOUR ASS. WHEN YOU DREAM TROUBLE IT IS A MARAUDING BEAR NOT A MAN.
GIRLS ARE FOUND AWAKE OR WITH EYES BURST DOWN HOLES OPEN OR MADE NEW RABBIT FROZEN OR FLAILING BLOOD SNEAKS OR ASS RAINS RUINED ON AN INFANT WITH A SUCKER THROAT GAGGED OR MEWLING STILL LOVE ASIDE ON THE BED WAITS.
YOU HAVE MARKS THERE FROM BIRTH. YOU ARE SPOTTED CALF WITH A DARK PATCH ON A LEG AND THE LIGHT SIGNING YOUR BACK.
YOU HAVE GROWN IN AN EASILY VIOLENT POSSESSION OF YOU A BABY THEN YOU A GIRL CHILD WHO COULD BE HURT AS SHE IS LIKE.
WHEN FIRST AWARE OF YOU I WAITED. THERE WERE CHANCES TO KILL YOU OPENLY OR NOT. I COULD HAVE SENT YOU FROM ME OR DIED WITH YOU TETHERED BELIEVING YOU SAFER.
I KNEW YOU TO BE THE TARGET OF MEN. THE SUBJECT OF MEN AND THEIR HABIT OF MURDER IS DENIED OR DERIDED.
WHOSE FINGERS DO YOU HAVE? WHEN I REVIEWED YOU NEWLY BORN YOU REVIVED A GRANDFATHER´S HANDS. I UNDERSTOOD YOU WOULD FLESH OUT THE FAMILY KNOWLEDGE.
HERE WAS WASTE LAND FOR OUR START.
PREPOSTEROUS FOR YOU TO HAVE THE HANDS OF AN AGED MAN THE LOVER OF ANY WOMAN HE COULD CATCH THEN RAPIST OF CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN GOT FROM THE WOMEN.
MY OLD MOTHER WAS SCHOOLED BY HER FATHER. SHE HAD A SON DIE. I WOULD NOT DO HER ONE BETTER BY KILLING A GIRL.
I CAME TO KNOW HOW WE WERE TO ADDRESS ONE ANOTHER. THE OLD MUST HUSH. WHEN I HAD TO REST TO CARRY YOU I SLEPT AND WHEN I COULD SHED YOU WOULD NOT. WHEN I MIGHT FALL TO LOSE YOU I DID NOT. YOU REQUIRED ME. WE BEGAN TO LIVE TOGETHER.
YOU ARE A GOOD NEW ONE FROM THE FAMILY RIGHTLY DEAD.
About the author
We have more CityPoems from the artist Jenny Holzer. For more information about her work, please check the first London City Poem.
Photo: Mac1961
The full text by Jenny Holzer:
I LOOK ALONG YOUR ARM FROM THE WRIST TO THE SHOULDER BLADE. I FOLLOW A SWELL OF BLOOD TO A RISE OF BONE. YOUR LANDSCAPE IS DAMP IN HOLLOWS BETWEEN BROWNED HILLS.
I READ YOUR SKIN. THEN YOU LOCK THUMBS ABOVE YOUR HEAD TO SHOW WHITE HOLES WHERE ARMS FIND THE TORSO. YOU RAISE BOTH HANDS AND OPEN YOUR RIBS.
I FORGET YOUR HANDS WHEN I MOVE AWAY. IT IS INDECENT TO RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY AND WHAT IT DID IN A PALM OR FINGERNAILS. I WANT YOU FRESHLY MADE.
VEINS SHOW ON YOUR RIBCAGE. EXEMPT FROM SYMMETRY CREEKS BRANCH FREELY BUT YOUR RIBS RETURN TO EACH OTHER AND YOUR HANDS HANG OPPOSITE WHEN STILL.
THOSE RIBS ARE TOO LIGHT TO KEEP YOU. THAT TORSO IS BUILT NARROWLY OF SHARK CARTILAGE OR SHOE PLASTIC. SLIGHTNESS MAY COME FROM YOUTH OR BY DESIGN.
I WORRY ABOUT LIFE IN A THIN CHEST. YOU ARE BEGINNING TO HAVE BREASTS AND I LOOK AT YOU AHEAD OF THE OTHERS.
INSIDE THE SHIRT YOU ARE CLOVEN.
YOU ARE PAST THE NIPPLE ONLY PHASE. WITH NO APPREHENSION YOU GREATEN. YOU REPORT TENDERNESS THEN ARE QUIET.
BLUSH BACKS YOUR ARMS WITH A BARE RED. GOOD STUDENT OF YOURSELF YOU DO NOT SEE WHAT OTHERS CAN AS THEY TRAIL. YOU ARE EASY TO TRACK AND FUN TO HUNT.
YOUR NECK SEEMS SHORT ABOVE DRAWN LEGS UNTIL THE THROAT GROWS AGAIN IN ONE OF ITS FREQUENT ITERATIONS OF SELF. FROM A FARMER´S HABIT IMAGINE AN ANIMAL GIVING BIRTH TO BE IMPROVED. I PAUSE AT YOUR NAPE WITH ITS FAIR CHEVRON INDICATING THOUGHT.
DOWN THE SPINE YOUR RIBS SPRING SOFTLY. EACH SPACE BETWEEN THEM IS THE SHE LOVES ME SHE LOVES ME NOT DITCH EMPTYING INTO BELLY.
YOU STRECH FRAMING YOUR STOMACH. THE NAVEL ARCS. HAIR COMES ERECT IN THE CHILL.
FITNESS PROTECTS YOUR BELLY FROM ALL BUT CATASTROPHE. YOU EXPECT NONE. YOU WERE CAUTIOUS ONCE DISPLAYING JUST CONTOUR BUT HERE IS BALD ANNOUNCEMENT.
I GO TO THE HIPS NOT OPEN THE BONES STILL FOLDED.
YOU ARE RUMPED AND SWAY BACKED LIKE THE FAMILY WOMEN. THERE IS A LEDGE BEHIND YOU ON WHICH TO BALANCE ADMIRATION.
WHEN VERY YOUNG YOU MASTURBATED NEAR ME. I DID NOT STOP YOU. ALL ALONG DESIRE HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE. YOU ARE DISCREET THEN FLAMBOYANT NEARING SEX WITH SOMEONE TO BE KNOWN.
I LOOK FROM LEGS TO GENITALS THAT ARE MATURE IN COMPLEX SHADOW FOLD. I HAD NOT SEEN HOW YOU ARE MADE. YOU ARE VIVID.
YOU HAVE SHAVED YOUR LEGS. YOU ARE PAST HAVING MY HANDS RUN OVER AS THEY DID TO LEARN YOU OR TO REGISTER FEVER.
IF I MOVED IN A SUSPECT CADENCE YOU SIGNALED ME LOST. MY LEGS WERE SMOOTHED AFTER SEX WHEN I WAS A CHILD. I HAVE NOT RAPED YOU ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD BE FAMILIAR ENOUGH IF I REMEMBER THE FAMILY HABIT.
YOU DO NOT IMAGINE MUCH UP YOUR ASS. WHEN YOU DREAM TROUBLE IT IS A MARAUDING BEAR NOT A MAN.
GIRLS ARE FOUND AWAKE OR WITH EYES BURST DOWN HOLES OPEN OR MADE NEW RABBIT FROZEN OR FLAILING BLOOD SNEAKS OR ASS RAINS RUINED ON AN INFANT WITH A SUCKER THROAT GAGGED OR MEWLING STILL LOVE ASIDE ON THE BED WAITS.
YOU HAVE MARKS THERE FROM BIRTH. YOU ARE SPOTTED CALF WITH A DARK PATCH ON A LEG AND THE LIGHT SIGNING YOUR BACK.
YOU HAVE GROWN IN AN EASILY VIOLENT POSSESSION OF YOU A BABY THEN YOU A GIRL CHILD WHO COULD BE HURT AS SHE IS LIKE.
WHEN FIRST AWARE OF YOU I WAITED. THERE WERE CHANCES TO KILL YOU OPENLY OR NOT. I COULD HAVE SENT YOU FROM ME OR DIED WITH YOU TETHERED BELIEVING YOU SAFER.
I KNEW YOU TO BE THE TARGET OF MEN. THE SUBJECT OF MEN AND THEIR HABIT OF MURDER IS DENIED OR DERIDED.
WHOSE FINGERS DO YOU HAVE? WHEN I REVIEWED YOU NEWLY BORN YOU REVIVED A GRANDFATHER´S HANDS. I UNDERSTOOD YOU WOULD FLESH OUT THE FAMILY KNOWLEDGE.
HERE WAS WASTE LAND FOR OUR START.
PREPOSTEROUS FOR YOU TO HAVE THE HANDS OF AN AGED MAN THE LOVER OF ANY WOMAN HE COULD CATCH THEN RAPIST OF CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN GOT FROM THE WOMEN.
MY OLD MOTHER WAS SCHOOLED BY HER FATHER. SHE HAD A SON DIE. I WOULD NOT DO HER ONE BETTER BY KILLING A GIRL.
I CAME TO KNOW HOW WE WERE TO ADDRESS ONE ANOTHER. THE OLD MUST HUSH. WHEN I HAD TO REST TO CARRY YOU I SLEPT AND WHEN I COULD SHED YOU WOULD NOT. WHEN I MIGHT FALL TO LOSE YOU I DID NOT. YOU REQUIRED ME. WE BEGAN TO LIVE TOGETHER.
YOU ARE A GOOD NEW ONE FROM THE FAMILY RIGHTLY DEAD.
About the author
We have more CityPoems from the artist Jenny Holzer. For more information about her work, please check the first London City Poem.
Photo: Mac1961
Inspiring Cities Museum of CityPoems
Inspiring Cities has collected many citypoems over the years, as well as organized salons with citypoets and cities doing special projects. We have two criteria for what a citypoem is: the intention must be poetic, and it must be in the public realm of cities. Shapes, form and locations can and do differ.
The Museum of CityPoems has citypoems from cities all over the world. From Alhambra to Zonnebeke, from Taipei to Lima.
Got one yourself? Mail us your pictures (free of rights) and description, and we will publish.
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