REVIEWS

Book Review
— Alison McReynolds

A Review of Ed Ruscha: Los Angeles Apartments

“Los Angeles Apartments”, the catalogue from the Ed Ruscha 2013 exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Basel, covers the influential American pop artist’s early drawings and related photographs. With a career flitting between painting, film, text art, book-making, photography and printmaking, Ruscha has made a name for himself as the master of the mundane. His training in commercial arts seems to have been the first push in a lifelong interrogation of the value of image and cultural symbols. This catalogue and corresponding show includes works from previous self-published books. The text within the book is primarily analytical and historical, addressing methodology and context behind his work. Outside of its intended purpose, the book also serves as an exceptional snapshot of Southern California residential architecture.

The meticulous presentation of Ruscha's work in the catalogue almost induces a feverish trance, nearly flattening the time between his revisioning of the artist-book and the contemporary artifact in hand. “Los Angeles Apartments” is a particularly energizing catalogue for its juxtaposition of graphite drawings against the photographic studies from which they emerge.  It is important to remember that architecture cannot be displayed; we can only show intent through pin-ups and process work. An apartment, a gas station, a can of spam are all objects that require a considered touch to explore their shallow properties and scales. Whether through excluding plant and human life, shifting the horizon, or even simply inserting new buildings, the works in the catalogue become reanimated and encourage us to draw out the unseen possibilities in our everyday environment.

Look for this title at The FOLD's local Recommend Shelf at Shelf Life Books in Calgary.

Alison McReynolds is a Calgary-based writer and student. She is interested in how intent manifests in design and policy.