Ed Ruscha's "Course of Empire" is a captivating series that explores the cyclical nature of civilization through the lens of the urban landscape of Los Angeles. This project, first showcased at the Venice Biennale in 2005, stands as a modern dialogue with Thomas Cole's 19th-century painting cycle, also titled "The Course of Empire". Cole's work traced the rise and fall of an imaginary civilization, encapsulating themes of progress, decay, and the transient nature of human endeavors.
Ruscha's series consists of ten paintings divided into two sets: the "Blue Collar Series" from 1992, rendered in black and white, and a subsequent set from 2004-05 in color. These works revisit the same sites in Los Angeles, highlighting the changes over the years. The buildings depicted are simple, industrial, and utilitarian, stripped of any aesthetic pretension yet resonant with implications of economic and global shifts. The transformation of these structures over time reflects broader themes of change, obsolescence, and the relentless march of progress (Gagosian) (National Gallery) (National Gallery).
The exhibition's unique presentation at the National Gallery in 2018 provided an insightful juxtaposition of Ruscha's contemporary urban landscapes with Cole's historical narrative. This pairing invited viewers to consider the evolution of the concept of empire and civilization from the past to the present day. Ruscha's work, unlike Cole's, does not end in destruction but rather in a state of ambiguous transition, where buildings change functions, disappear, or become obsolete in the face of technological and societal shifts (National Gallery).
Ruscha's interest in the theme of empire and civilization's cyclical nature was piqued by his encounters with Cole's paintings at the New-York Historical Society in the 1980s. This inspiration led to a series that not only reflects on the physical transformations within the urban landscape but also delves into philosophical inquiries about time, history, and the human condition. By employing industrial buildings as his subjects, Ruscha meditates on the abstraction of economic and political discourse within the context of globalization and capitalism (Gagosian).
The exhibition's innovative hang, with the black-and-white series above and the colored paintings below, allowed for a direct comparison between the two sets, enhancing the viewer's experience of temporal passage and change. This setup also mirrored the traditional European picture gallery aesthetic, integrating Ruscha's contemporary vision with the grandeur of historical landscapes and narratives (National Gallery).
"Course of Empire" stands as a testament to Ed Ruscha's enduring fascination with the landscapes and cityscapes that define American visual culture. Through this series, Ruscha offers a nuanced reflection on the themes of progress, transformation, and the inexorable flow of time, contributing a significant chapter to the dialogue on the nature of empire and civilization.