Assessment 1A: Photography and Frame
ED RUSCHA
Pop artist, Edward Ruscha was born in 1937 in Nebraska, America later moving to Los Angeles to study at the Chouinard Art Institute in 1956, intending to become a commercial artist. However, Ruscha recognized the importance and immediate growth in pop art and began to create pop art collection with was exhibited at the Ferus, Leo Castelli and Gagosian Galleries.
Ruscha has been influenced greatly by the city of Los Angeles and his interest in graphic arts, by incorporating text and urban, as well as Western landscapes into his work. As a painter, drawer and filmmaker, Ruscha used unusual media; reflecting contemporary life; what people ate and used every day. Such as fruit and vegetable juices, gun powder and grass stains.
Ruscha often used sentences and phrases to suggest everyday American language and slang to draw attention to a particular experience. In one of his series'; of pastel drawings introduced fields of colour. His photographs explore symmetry and proportion. However, has a sense of simplicity. He produces a monochromatic toned strip of topography showing elevation of a chosen scenery; often picturing gas stations which later became part of his famous 'Twentysix gas stations'.
Ed Ruscha’s ‘Twentysix gas stations’ was inspired by the black and white (monochromatic) photography of Walker Evans and Robert Frank; who both offered distinctive, dull visions of contemporary American life. Ruscha began to capture pictures of various gas stations that he had stopped at or passed by on his journey from his home in Los Angeles to his parents’ home in Oklahoma. Eventually, he gathered a collection of approximately fifty photographs; mostly taken in 1962. It presents one icon [the gas station] repeated in various locations. This book has thus been highly regarded as the first-ever artist book.
This quadrant provides a contrast with the man made world and the natural world. Straight lines are used which provides a sense of direction the the graphics used which is the focal point of the image.Monochromatic tones are used however, there is contrast with the bright white shades used.
In this quadrant more graphics are shown, providing the focal point of the image. This quadrant reflects upon the beginning of contemporary society. The scenery provided seems to be a central location to civilization; being extremely popular.
The third quadrant provides a 'pathway' to a destination. Further reflecting the beginning of contemporary society and the simplicity present in Ruscha's work.
The last quadrant; bottom right, introduces shadow into the photograph. More graphics are shown providing examples of different textures to further capture the attention of the viewers.
ED RUSCHA'S PHOTOGRAPHS
MY PHOTOS
The images I have chosen to include in my series, document the various techniques Ruscha had manipulated in his work on the 'Twentysix gas stations'. Similar to him photographing each gas station he had passed on his journey. I decided to capture each street I passed on my journey, while catching the 6 am sunrise. The time of day allowed for the inclusion in shadows evident in image three. Ruscha's pretence of neutral imagery and simplicity in his way of photographing depict a sense of 'not caring' which I have aimed to include into my photo series. I have resembled a 'pathway' within my images which depict the 'pathway' evident within Ruscha's 'twenty six gastations'.
REFERENCES
Ed Ruscha Biography – Ed Ruscha on artnet. (2020). Retrieved 24 March 2020, from http://www.artnet.com/artists/ed-ruscha/biography
Ruscha. E. (1962). From Twentysix Gasoline Stations [Photograph]. Phaidon. https://au.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2013/september/09/ed-ruscha-explains-his-love-of-gas-stations/
Richardson. Y. (2005). Ed Ruscha [Photograph]. Yancey Richardson. http://www.yanceyrichardson.com/exhibitions/ed-ruscha
Sooke. A (2015). Ed Ruscha [Photograph]. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/CHyQxfVZzS9xLkXPv0mWGr/ed-ruscha-capturing-the-zoom-factor
Sooke, A. (2015, Ausgust 25). Ed Ruscha: Capturing the zoom factor. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/CHyQxfVZzS9xLkXPv0mWGr/ed-ruscha-capturing-the-zoom-factor
