The Ninth American Dream 2001

The late Robert Indiana made "The Ninth American Dream" with paint and wood, though when, exactly, isn't clear. Right away, you're pulled in by these bright, almost graphic colors, that pop against the dark background, right? It’s not just a painting; it's more like a puzzle, or a sign, each number nine encased in a circle like a little world. Look closely, and you'll see words like "LOVE" repeated, mixed with "EAT" and "DIE" - the bittersweet flavor of life itself. The edges of each circle are sharply delineated, so precise, but there’s something raw about the textures. The colors aren’t blended so much as laid on, like tiles. Take the circle labelled 'Remember'. Its placement at the bottom of the piece acts as a foundation, not just for the artwork, but for the collective narrative Indiana is building. He has a really distinctive graphic sensibility, and, like Jasper Johns, he's exploring this idea of the American vernacular, but in a way all his own. Ultimately, pieces like this offer more questions than answers, and, in art, that's kind of the point.