Roni Horn: Wits' End

Horn's silkscreens of crowdsourced cliches and colloquialisms celebrate the instabilities of the vernacular, engaging the moments when language fails and connotation migrates. The idioms are screened in a unique configuration directly on the wall or composed of 75 to 350 idioms silkscreened on paper.

Format: Hardback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: Hauser & Wirth

In her captivating series of drawings titled Wits End, Roni Horn (born 1955) delves into the dynamic realm of vernacular expressions. Through two distinct series, Horn harnesses the power of handwritten idioms, cliches, and colloquialisms as her artistic source material. In the first series, titled Wits End Sampler, she embarked on an intriguing project by inviting approximately 300 individuals to pen down five of these vernacular phrases. These invaluable expressions were then meticulously transformed into individual silkscreens, creating a rich tapestry of visual language. The second series, titled Wits End Mash, showcases a diverse range of compositions, comprising anywhere from 75 to 350 idioms intricately silkscreened onto paper. These captivating drawings delve into the fascinating moments when language falters and connotations intertwine, reveling in the inherent instability and fluidity of meaning. In her insightful essay included in this volume, Michelle White eloquently captures the essence of Horn's artistic vision, emphasizing the joy and excitement that arises from embracing the unpredictable nature of language. Wits End stands as the seventh installment in Horn's series of books, which meticulously gather a diverse array of works, including two notable publications, bird (2008) and aka (2010), released by Hauser & Wirth Publishers. Through her artistic exploration, Horn invites us to witness the ever-evolving nature of language and the profound ways in which it shapes our understanding and perception of the world.

Weight: 1082g
Dimension: 288 x 312 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783906915654