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Kruger, Barbara. (b. 1945). "Surveillance Is Your Busywork," ca. 1983. 1986: David Meitus, Rhona Hoffman Gallery. Chicago.
Lithograph placard in black and white with a bold red banner across the bottom containing the text, "Surveillance is your busywork," part of a series produced by the American artist for New York City’s Metro Transit Authority, who displayed the works throughout the city's subways in the early 1980s.  In fine condition.  28 x 11 inches (71 x 28 cm.).

Kruger first released her "Surveillance" image in 1983, appearing in two versions: "Surveillance is your busywork" and "Surveillance is their busywork."  A keen sense of social engagement pervades all Kruger’s work, which has appeared on billboards, bus cards, posters, and train station platforms, as well as in parks and other public spaces. 

"Kruger is one of the world’s distinctive and provocative artists, known for her hybridized mass-media and text collages.  In 1970s New York, Barbara Kruger began her career in the advertising world.  Shortly after she would change professional directions, dedicating herself to art making with an emphasis on cultural critique.  Her early (now iconic) collages combined provocative, and often cynical declaratory statements of text atop glossy images that seemed to be from magazines or American advertising.  'Surveillance' is an excellent example of Kruger’s powerful approach and unique style.  Here a man armed with a loupe is partially covered by a menacing slogan, 'Surveillance is your busywork.'  The viewer is confronted with a statement alluding to power politics; not just of commodity culture, but of gender politics and community hierarchies as well." (Caviar 20)

Kruger, Barbara. (b. 1945) "Surveillance Is Your Busywork," ca. 1983

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Kruger, Barbara. (b. 1945). "Surveillance Is Your Busywork," ca. 1983. 1986: David Meitus, Rhona Hoffman Gallery. Chicago.
Lithograph placard in black and white with a bold red banner across the bottom containing the text, "Surveillance is your busywork," part of a series produced by the American artist for New York City’s Metro Transit Authority, who displayed the works throughout the city's subways in the early 1980s.  In fine condition.  28 x 11 inches (71 x 28 cm.).

Kruger first released her "Surveillance" image in 1983, appearing in two versions: "Surveillance is your busywork" and "Surveillance is their busywork."  A keen sense of social engagement pervades all Kruger’s work, which has appeared on billboards, bus cards, posters, and train station platforms, as well as in parks and other public spaces. 

"Kruger is one of the world’s distinctive and provocative artists, known for her hybridized mass-media and text collages.  In 1970s New York, Barbara Kruger began her career in the advertising world.  Shortly after she would change professional directions, dedicating herself to art making with an emphasis on cultural critique.  Her early (now iconic) collages combined provocative, and often cynical declaratory statements of text atop glossy images that seemed to be from magazines or American advertising.  'Surveillance' is an excellent example of Kruger’s powerful approach and unique style.  Here a man armed with a loupe is partially covered by a menacing slogan, 'Surveillance is your busywork.'  The viewer is confronted with a statement alluding to power politics; not just of commodity culture, but of gender politics and community hierarchies as well." (Caviar 20)