Kiedis & Ruscha Talk Art & L.A. While Cruising Through Town
As part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. from 1945 to 1980, unexpected pairings between artists featured in the event and modern pop culture icons will demonstrate the perpetual inspiration provoked by the art and artists in Pacific Standard Time.
The first of four videos showcasing these pairings takes viewers on a lazy car ride around town with Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers behind the wheel. Riding passenger sits Ed Ruscha, a word-obsessed Pop Art movement artist. Their conversation reveals striking similarities between the two, including confessions of their love affairs with L.A. and fascination with the "funny, wiggly shapes" that translate into words," as Ruscha describes letters.
"Sometimes I don't know if I'm painting pictures of words or painting pictures with words. Maybe that's a good position to be in, is to not know too much about what you're doing," Ruscha says to Kiedis, who agrees.
"I definitely relate deeply to the idea of words being art. When I see somebody else who's got such a connection with words, I instantly feel connected to that person," says Kiedis. He notes that the Chili Peppers produced a song called "If," to which Ruscha replies that he crafted a painting dedicated to the exact same word.
While chitchatting about art and what inspires them, the men admit their love for Los Angeles, reminding us of the recent love letter to L.A. penned by a native Angeleno. Ruscha has documented Sunset Boulevard in his work and once deemed the Hollywood sign his weather vane. Kiedis is obviously smitten by the sprawl. "This town is magic to me, and it hasn't grown old. I love the colors and the layout and the mountains and the ocean and the desert," he says. He loves it all.
In regards to art, Ruscha likes looking at work that he's "not in anticipation of." Kiedis feels the same way.
"My favorite experience with art is visceral where I see it, and it just makes me go, "Oh! Oh! Oh! Look at that! Oh! Something great happened right there!" says Kiedis.
Pacific Standard Time spans from October 2011 through May 2012, culminating as a highly anticipated series of over 40 exhibitions across Southern California.
