Black (PL100155)

​John McCracken’s “planks” have long been associated with a uniquely Los Angeles aesthetic, their polished, lacquered surfaces resembling those of customized cars and surfboards. The manner in which Black (PL100155) leans casually against the wall contributes to the impression of a detached California cool. This leaning gesture also endows the tall, slim object with a sense of volition, as if a painting decided to climb down off the wall and hang out in the three-dimensional world. McCracken wanted to create objects that seem like they might come from a UFO. The immaculate finish, offering no trace of the artist’s hand and betraying no sign of the construction process, does suggest that the work was born spontaneously, rather than made.