Ed Ruscha: Course of Empire

Small exhibition at the National Gallery of two complimentary sets of pictures by Ed Ruscha.

 
The show consisted of five canvases from 1992 in black and white and five in colour from 2003 of the tops of box buildings in Los Angeles. Each pair of pictures shows the same building at both dates. In the earlier set the function of the buildings is clear such as Trade School or tyres. In the second set, which he describes as “an accelerated aged version of the same landscape” the buildings now how more ambiguous functions, the trade school is out of business and the Tool & Die is now a Korean firm. 

This was a lovely pairing with the Thomas Cole show as they address a new American landscape and also address similar issues to the Rise and Fall of Civilisation series. I loved their large format and sparse design.

Closes on 7 October 2018


 
Review
Guardian





 

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