Year: 2015
Medium: multicolor neon
Dimensions: 16.4 x 160 x 13 cm (6 1/2 x 63 x 5 1/8 in.)
Edition: No. 2 of 3 + 1 A.P.
Acquired from Hauser & Wirth, 2023
Creed has produced numerous neon works, but the phrase “DON’T WORRY” is a recurring motif among them. It appears in his work No.220 (1999-2002) in white, No.239 (2000) in blue, No.252 (2000) in white which is installed in St. Peter’s Church in Cologne, No.273 (2001) in yellow, No.277 (2002-2003) in green, No.291 (2003) in red, and No.794 (2007) in white. All of them are monochromatic works. No.890 (2008) is in yellow and is part of the TATE collection. It is displayed on the corner wall on two sides as if “DON’T” and “WORRY” are bent at right angles. In contrast, this work is suspended hollow from the ceiling rather than on the wall. Thus, neon signs are attached to both the front and back. Moreover, each letter is in a different color, combined with the letterform that emphasizes its roundness, highlighting Creed’s pop style.
This optimistic phrase would be an expression wholeheartedly delivered to someone grappling with anxiety in everyday conversation. On the one hand, this work can be seen as an ironic criticism of the art system exhibited in special environments of museums and galleries, which strips such humanistic words of their original meaning. On the other hand, it could be taken as if Creed simply enjoys the humor of the reactions from the general public when he cheerfully throws out this pleasurable and encouraging phrase. This condescending attitude is typical of Creed’s works.
