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Ed Ruscha, 'O', 1993

$35,000
£26,571.40
€30,392.02
CA$48,900.08
A$54,387.56
CHF 28,399.49
MX$661,838.73
NOK 362,704.86
SEK 340,153.17
DKK 226,827.27
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About the Item

Ed Ruscha’s O (1993) is a striking example of his conceptual engagement with language, material, and erasure. Created using bleach on a cloth-bound book—Stand Like Men (1973)—the work transforms an everyday object into a meditation on meaning and abstraction. Measuring 8.75 x 6 x 1.25 inches, O exemplifies Ruscha’s ability to manipulate text and materials to create visually arresting yet conceptually layered works. The use of bleach as a medium is significant, as it acts both as a tool of removal and revelation. By stripping away pigment from the book’s surface, Ruscha creates a ghostly, almost spectral presence where the letter “O” emerges. This act of erasure parallels his longstanding fascination with entropy, impermanence, and the shifting nature of communication. As a single letter, “O” is both minimal and evocative—suggesting an exclamation, a void, or an open mouth. It invites multiple interpretations, characteristic of Ruscha’s witty, enigmatic approach to language in art. By repurposing a pre-existing book, he also engages in a dialogue about literature, printed matter, and the ways in which objects acquire new meanings over time. O stands as a quiet yet powerful example of Ruscha’s ongoing investigation into the visual and conceptual possibilities of text.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.75 in (22.23 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1993
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    LAGUNA BEACH, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2295344017822

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