Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass 1968

Editor: Here we have Edward Ruscha's "Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass," the date is unavailable, and the medium seems to be ink on paper. The simple layout of the text gives me an oddly unsettling feeling. What do you make of it? Curator: The artwork is more than a simple layout. Ruscha’s work, especially pieces like this, confronts the commodification of the American Dream. The stark typography and the mundane subject matter highlight the superficiality of consumer culture. Do you consider the implications of mass production on identity? Editor: I see what you mean. The pools, usually a sign of luxury, are presented in such a sterile way, almost like a factory product. It does make you think about the promises of consumerism. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! Ruscha challenges us to question the values embedded within our everyday landscapes, and to think critically about how they shape our desires and perceptions.