See Artists A-Z
DEC. 30th
Enlarge
? Ed Ruscha

Reference URL

DEC. 30th 2005
  • Artist Rooms
The dimensions of this large work call to mind the format of widescreen movies. Ruscha had previously replicated the ratio of the widescreen CinemaScope in the size of several canvases. The Hollywood sign, an iconic feature of the Los Angeles skyline, is silhouetted and blurred with orange and red spray paint. The colours, as well as the shaded sign, suggest a sunset. Ruscha has exploited the sign in his work since the late-1960s and commented: ?The idea of Hollywood has lots of meanings and one ? to me ? is this image of something fake up here being held up with sticks? I looked outside my window here and I saw the sign `Hollywood? and it became the subject matter for me.?

Glossary Open

Silhouette

Images showing an outline with no internal detail set against a contrasting background. It is specifically used for portraits of this type cut from paper.

Silhouette

Details

  • Acc. No. AR00065
  • Medium Acrylic on paper
  • Size 101.6 x 152.4 cm
  • Credit ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008

See related artworks

Part of

Artist Rooms