Locator P.S.1
Nancy Holt
1980
The Institute for Art and Urban Resources
Steel pipe, black paint
Overall dimensions variable. Locator Height: 60 in. (152 cm); Width: 12 in. (31 cm)
© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York
Holt’s Locators indicate some of the key concepts behind her renowned earthworks. A simple structure made from a horizontal steel pipe mounted at eye-level, the locator is a telescope of sorts, without a lens. It can be looked through from either end, so that the viewer observes both points of their once-held perspective—a concept with which Holt is continuously fascinated. The Locator frames a particular view in space, which restricts the subject’s perspective while at the same time, facilitates a private, solitary experience. Perception is thus internalized, allowing the viewer to reflect within while observing an external reality.
