Art and the city; Civic imagination and cultural authority in Los Angeles

摘要

Los Angeles's cultural scene has largely been ignored in the annals of art history. Most of the world sees New York City's post-World War II abstract expressionism as the defining historical moment paving the way for the rise of American modern and contemporary art. Yet, this history fails to acknowledge the crucial role that Los Angeles played in shaping art from minimalism, to the incorporation of aerospace materials into sculpture, to Jeff Koons's gigantic steel flowers and hearts. Consider that Andy Warhol's iconic Campbell's soup cans were shown for the first time in West Hollywood, some 3,000 miles from the United States' ostensible art capital, New York City. Perhaps, the expansive geography, lack of critical mass of critics and dealers, and the dominance of Hollywood can explain why Los Angeles has consistently punched below its weight in the art world.