Ed Ruscha's "Dedication Stones" series, showcased in Saanen, Switzerland from July 16 to September 26, 2021, is a compelling exploration of language, culture, and humor through visual art. This series represents a new chapter in Ruscha's illustrious career, spanning over fifty years, wherein he has consistently utilized a distinctively American palette of images, words, and symbols across various mediums. "Dedication Stones" comprises drawings that feature a range of short words or symbols, each incorporating the letter 'x', which Ruscha views as the ultimate variable—an endlessly adaptable stand-in for myriad ideas.
Ruscha's work is deeply embedded in the landscapes and cultural fabric of the American West, especially Los Angeles. His art captures the essence of modern communication, marked by both a critical and humorous examination of the everyday. In "Dedication Stones", each piece is dedicated to a specific idea or entity, from tangible objects to abstract concepts, with titles such as "XXX (Dedicated to a Jug of Whiskey)", "Pax (Dedicated to the Idea of Peace)", and "LAX (Dedicated to Los Angeles International Airport)". These works, rendered in acrylic and pencil on museum board, demonstrate Ruscha's signature blend of visual and verbal wit, delving into the disconnect between representation and reality, and celebrating what he describes as the "everyday noise" of life.
The series is characterized by its use of staccato enunciation in the reading of the sequential words, overshadowing their conventional meanings and engaging with them as abstract linguistic units. This technique recalls Ruscha's earlier screen-print portfolio "News, Mews, Pews, Brews, Stews & Dues" (1970), which also played with phonetic similarities. The cultural significance of each word remains pertinent, however, with each drawing's subtitle contextualizing its subject within specific cultural or historical narratives. The humor and critique in these dedications are evident, with references to notable events and figures, such as the 1919 World Series game-rigging scandal in "Fix (Dedicated to the 1919 World Series)".
Visually, the "Dedication Stones" mimic the appearance of chiseled stone, suggesting monuments or tombstones through their gray tonality, stippled texture, and classical serif fonts. This aesthetic choice, combined with the illusion of torn edges implying paper surfaces, adds layers of meaning, hinting at both homage and ephemerality. Some works celebrate living individuals and places, while others commemorate or anticipate the passing of legendary figures from the past, such as jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke and racing driver Jacky Ickx.
Ed Ruscha's "Dedication Stones" is a profound reflection on the interplay between language, culture, and memory, encapsulating his enduring fascination with the landscapes and narratives that define American identity (Gagosian) (Dream Idea Machine).