Ed Ruscha's "Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass" from 1968 is a fascinating exploration into the commonplace yet iconic symbol of Los Angeles lifestyle—the swimming pool. This work is part of Ruscha's broader engagement with the artist's book as a medium, blending photography, conceptual art, and the mundane to create pieces that challenge and engage the viewer. Each page of this artist's book, offset printed, showcases Ruscha's keen eye for the quietly dramatic elements of everyday scenes, presenting them without commentary, allowing the images to speak for themselves (MoMA) (Art Gallery of NSW).
This series marked Ruscha's first foray into color photography within his artist's books, distinguishing it from his earlier, more monochromatic works. Notably, Ruscha made a unique printing choice for this project by omitting the black ink typically used in four-color printing processes. This decision, likely experimental, aimed to enhance the brightness and surreal quality of the images, making them appear almost ethereal and disconnected from their shadows (Aperture).
"Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass" encompasses not just an aesthetic exploration but also a conceptual one, delving into the fabric of Los Angeles' culture and geography through its leisure spaces. The book, produced in a relatively large edition for its time, underscored Ruscha's interest in making art accessible and distributable, a theme consistent throughout his work with artist's books. Despite its apparent simplicity, the series invites viewers to ponder the role and representation of swimming pools in American culture, especially within the context of Los Angeles' sunny and hedonistic image (MoMA) (Art Gallery of NSW).
Furthermore, the inclusion of a broken glass at the end of the series adds a layer of intrigue and perhaps suggests a narrative or commentary on the idyllic life represented by the pools. Ruscha's works, including this series, are celebrated for their ability to provoke thought and reconsideration of the mundane and everyday through his distinct lens (Aperture).