Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California Photography, 1945-1982 - Hardcover

Daniell Cornell

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3791351761 ISBN 13: 9783791351766

Publisher: Prestel, 2012

Synopsis

Since the end of World War II, southern California's backyard pools - those blue-green oases in an otherwise often arid landscape - have symbolized any number of American ideals: optimism, wealth, consumerism, escape, physical beauty, and the triumph of man over nature. Simultaneously, the field of photography developed as a transformative method for recording the human condition. This exhibition catalogue celebrates the nexus of these two phenomena in a one-of-a-kind collection that features more than two hundred works by more than forty post-war artists and photographers. It presents works by photographers and artists including Bill Anderson, John Baldessari, Ruth Bernhard, David Hockney, Herb Ritts, Ed Ruscha, Julius Shulman, and Larry Sultan. Thematically grouped into topics ranging from the rise of celebrity culture, suburbia and dystopia, avant-garde architectural landscape design and the cult of the body, these images offer a rich study of the cultural connotations of the swimming pool. Six insightful essays provide a comprehensive overview of the development of the swimming pool and its attendant aesthetic and social culture.

About this title

Product Description:

HardCover. Pub the Date: November 2007 Pages: 256 Publisher: Prestel Since the end The of World War II. southern California's backyard pools have - those blue-green oases in an otherwise often arid landscape - have symbolized the any number of American ideals: optimism wealth. consumerism. escape. physical beauty. and the triumph of man over nature. Simultaneously. the field of photography developed as a transformative method for recording the human condition. This exhibition catalogue celeates the nexus of these two phenomena in a one-of- a-kind collection that features more than two hundred works by more than forty post-war artists and photographers. It presents works by photographers and artists including Bill Anderson. John Baldessari. Ruth Bernhard. David Hockney. Herb Ritts. Ed Ruscha. Julius Shulman . and Larry Sultan. Thematically grouped into topics ranging from the...

Review:

The book - which accompanies an exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum - examines "the cultural construction of America's post-war identity", but as far as we're concerned it's a chance to gawp at good-looking people in good-looking locations having some good-looking fun. --Esquire, February 2012

When it comes to California dreaming, the swimming pool is at the heart of the image of hedonism, laid back luxury and desire that is associated with the region. This collection of black and white and colour photographs delves in to the social history of Southern California, encapsulating the personalities, hopes and disillusions of America's post- World War II ethos. --Summit, Volume 12

A book where it's always summer, and therefore the perfect antidote to any lingering winter blues. --Stylist January 2012

Now the focus of a new Prestel publication, Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California Photography 1945-1982, the swimming pool is considered as a symbol and embodiment of the Southern Californian ideals and expectations, through an enticing array of sun-filled photographs and a number of accompanying essays. --AnOther Magazine March 2012

Swimming Pools. Movie Stars. The Clampetts found them when they moved to Beverly. Hills that is. And they are what you find in this portable summer-between-covers collection of SoCal pool photos that feature the likes of Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe, assorted muscle boys, starlets, society dames, and just plain kids romping round the cement ponds. --Bookforum, Apr/May 2012

About this edition

• Publisher: Prestel
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 3791351761
• ISBN 13: 9783791351766
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256
• Editor: Daniell Cornell