Over the past two decades, Strau has worked in almost every capacity, as an artist, curator, gallerist, and writer. His writing, which often takes the form of catalogue essays, has gradually moved from more conventional analytic prose to a very personal and freewheeling form. In 2003, he published his first stand-alone text White Nights. This small booklet has become the first in a series of short stories comprising an ongoing novel.

For his current show, Strau presents several new and revisited text works, which are then “illuminated” as he connects them to a series of found lamps. Each lamp is subtly modified-shades are added, surfaces are painted in white-out-just enough to give them each a slight personality. The texts are then attached with ribbons, clipped to the lamps, or some lamps even “speak” them. While primarily a literary effort, “reading” is here relocated within a sculptural installation.