Artist Jenny Holzer's solo exhibition at Paris's Musée d'Orsay connects historical writing with present-day concerns, including the challenges faced by students and teachers. Speaking amid demonstrations in the city, Holzer expressed concern that young people must press for better schools, fair teacher pay and clean learning environments, as well as for their safety.
One work in the exhibition displays a line written by French novelist Émile Zola in 1860, expressing fear about a dark future. Elsewhere, text projected across the museum's exterior brings together quotations from 30 cultural figures, among them Charles Baudelaire, Vincent van Gogh and Auguste Rodin.
The exhibition also incorporates words into artworks, including a marble bench bearing a remark by artist Mary Cassatt. Holzer said the archival texts felt strikingly contemporary, while their mix of vulnerability, humour and reflection made their authors feel close across time.
By placing historic voices alongside current concerns, the exhibition shows how art can keep public conversations alive and invite new generations to imagine a more hopeful future.
