Barbara Kruger’s untitled series from 2001, featuring pieces titled Lust, Evil, Fate, Help, Envy, Hate, Fear, Pray, Good, and Love, powerfully explores fundamental human emotions and moral concepts. Each piece uses a single word to encapsulate complex and often conflicting aspects of the human experience.

Lust, Evil, and Fate delve into intense desires, the dark sides of human nature, and the forces of destiny. Kruger’s work prompts viewers to reflect on how these emotions and concepts are portrayed and manipulated in media and society. Help and Envy emphasize the dynamics of support and discontentment, challenging viewers to consider the societal structures that influence who gets help and the perpetual comparisons fostered by consumer culture.

Hate and Fear confront viewers with raw, destructive emotions and pervasive anxieties. Kruger’s stark representations force contemplation of their roots and impacts, as well as how these feelings are exploited through media and politics. Pray examines the act of seeking solace or intervention through faith, inviting reflection on personal and communal practices.

Good and Love represent moral aspirations and profound connections. Kruger’s portrayal encourages viewers to consider the subjective nature of goodness and the transformative power of love. By isolating these powerful words, Kruger’s series provokes thought and self-examination, highlighting how these fundamental human experiences are portrayed, manipulated, and understood within the broader context of society.