Back Seat Dodge ’38, 1964

Back Seat Dodge '38, 1964

Polyester resin, paint, fiberglass, and flock, truncated 1938 Dodge, clothing, chicken wire, beer bottles, artificial grass, and plaster cast. 66 x 240 x 144 in. Also derives from specific memory from past.When first display at LACMA it was deemed too pornographic, but it became more popular because of this controversy.

The State Hospital, 1964-66

The State Hospital, 1964-66, interior

The State Hospital, 1964-66 Large installation piece, interior & exterior The motivation to create this piece came from an actual experience of the artist who worked as an orderly in a mental hospital before moving to Los Angeles and starting his art career.  Exterior Institutional-looking white outer shell crate with door with small barred window […]

The Beanery, 1965

The Beanery

The artist reconstructed the interior of a bar in LA. Everything is the same except for the patrons, who all have clocks for heads that read 10:10. Kienholz was aiming to show the disconnected reality of time within a bar.

Five Car Stud, 1969-72

Five Car Stud

This is the largest of Kienholz’ tableau installation and perhaps the most provocative because of it’s content. It involves nine life-sized figures, five automobiles, several trees and a truckload of dirt. While it was the last piece he worked on before moving to Berlin, it was never exhibited in the U.S. during his lifetime.

Bibliography

Auping, Michael. “Edward Kienholz/MATRIX 21.” University of CA, Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive. April 1, 1979. Accessed April 25, 2015. bampfa.berkeley.edu. The museum’s webpage is a description of the “Edward Kienholz/MATRIX 21” art exhibit of the Spring of 1979. The author offers a synopsis and critique of Kienholz’ body of work.   Colosi, […]

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