Joseph Kosuth
'Texts for Nothing #18', 2010
Warm white neon dipped in matte black mounted directly on the wall
36 x 183 cm
14 1/8 x 72 in
14 1/8 x 72 in
Copyright The Artist
Joseph Kosuth’s Texts for Nothing is part of his broader practice of using language as the primary material of art—often presented in neon, echoing commercial signage but redirecting it toward...
Joseph Kosuth’s Texts for Nothing is
part of his broader practice of using language as the primary material
of art—often presented in neon, echoing commercial signage but
redirecting it toward philosophical reflection.
The series takes its title from Texts for Nothing (1950s), a set of short, fragmented writings by Samuel Beckett.
Beckett’s texts are known for their sparse, self-questioning language,
often circling around themes of meaninglessness, identity, and the
limits of expression. Kosuth appropriates or references this material
and renders it in neon installations.