Description
Book Synopsis: Over the span of his six-decade career, Ed Ruscha (b. 1937) has created a distinctively stylized vision of the modern American landscape of gas stations, highways, and industrial buildings. Incorporating text, stark typography, and commercial logos, the artist’s multivalent images both portray and interrogate the contemporary world’s relentlessly packaged environment. By placing Ruscha’s celebrated Course of Empire—a ten-painting installation originally created for the 2005 Venice Biennale—in dialogue with Thomas Cole’s five-picture cycle The Course of Empire from the 1830s, this catalogue offers a fresh perspective on each of these disparate masterpieces. Unlike Cole’s grandiose vision of the rise and fall of classical civilization, Ruscha’s work comprises five black-and-white Los Angeles landscapes made in 1992 paired with color representations of the same sites as they appeared ten years later and draws attention to how often-overlooked changes in the evolving urban landscape are redolent of economic might and globalization or decline and stagnation.
Published by National Gallery Company, London/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:
The National Gallery, London (06/11/2018–10/07/2018)
Details
Discover the mesmerizing world of Ed Ruscha with his groundbreaking book, "Course of Empire". Ruscha's unique and stylized portrayal of the modern American landscape captures the essence of gas stations, highways, and industrial buildings like never before. With the perfect blend of striking typography, text, and commercial logos, Ruscha's artwork challenges the packaged environment we live in. Now, for the first time, Ruscha's celebrated ten-painting installation, "Course of Empire", is brought to life in this remarkable catalogue.
Uncover a fresh perspective as this catalogue delves into the intriguing dialogue between Ruscha's contemporary masterpiece and Thomas Cole's classic five-picture cycle, "The Course of Empire". While Cole envisioned the rise and fall of classical civilization, Ruscha offers a compelling contrast with five black-and-white Los Angeles landscapes from 1992, paired with color representations of the same sites ten years later. Witness the often-overlooked changes in the evolving urban landscape as they reflect periods of economic might, globalization, decline, and stagnation.
Published by National Gallery Company, London and distributed by Yale University Press, this visually stunning book is a must-have for art enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone who appreciates the power of artistic expression. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Ed Ruscha, where art and society collide. Embrace the opportunity to explore the depths of his masterpieces and gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted modern American landscape.
Unlock the world of Ed Ruscha today and experience the sheer brilliance of "Course of Empire". Captivating, thought-provoking, and visually stunning, this book is a gateway to the realms of contemporary art and cultural exploration. Don't miss out on this remarkable journey. Get your copy now!
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