Artist:
Address:
La Cienega Blvd. at Imperial Hwy., Los Angeles, CA 90045. (click to view)
Size:
100' X 17' ft
Medium:
Acrylic
Date:
1984
Type:
Historic
Description / Interpretation:
Begun as a spoof on the "surreality" of advertising, this mural incorporates art historical references and magic realist figures to create an allegory of human values. The mural itself is a "billboard" that offers up universal symbols and image-ideals for pondering: Quetzalcoatl (the pre-Columbian Mexican feathered serpent god), angels, happy flying business people--happy because of a successful venture, or because of sudden news of world peace. The Everyman in the center of the mural is based on the figure in Rene Magritte's 1957 surrealist painting, THE READY-MADE BOUQUET. Restored by MCLA in 1994. This mural was painted over in 2006. Photo © Stefan Merkin.