As part of the Getty-organized PST Art initiative this fall in Los Angeles, mega-gallery Hauser & Wirth is set to unveil a new exhibition at its West Hollywood location, inspired by the beloved 1991 film "L.A. Story", written by and starring Steve Martin.

“L.A. Story” opens at Hauser and Wirth in West Hollywood on September 12 and runs through January 4, 2025. The show pays homage to the city of angels, reflecting its iconic tropes—cerulean swimming pools, breathtaking sunsets, and the challenges of earthquakes and relentless traffic, all while navigating the pretentiousness of its inhabitants and the fierce competition for reservations at trendy restaurants. 

Davis,  senior director of the gallery, alongside Ingrid Schaffner, senior curatorial director, co-organized the exhibition in collaboration with Martin. The diverse lineup of artists features Mark Bradford, Vija Celmins, Eric Fischl, David Hockney, Luchita Hurtado, Friedrich Kunath, Florian Maier-Aichen, Hilary Pecis, Calida Rawles, Jennifer Rocklin, and Ed Ruscha.

The film’s protagonist, Harris K. Telemacher, portrayed by Martin, embarks on a quest for meaning and true love in a city often criticized for its cultural emptiness. “I had this idea in my head for about a year,” said Mike Davis. “It would come up in conversations with artists. It’s one of those cultural touchstones discussed at dinner parties like the scene in L.A. Story where an earthquake occurs and no one reacts.”

Although Martin couldn’t co-curate due to his busy schedule with "Only Murders in the Building", Davis praised his involvement. “He’s been phenomenal throughout the process,” he noted. “We sought his perspective because, while the film critiques L.A.’s cultural landscape, he is an astute collector with a wealth of knowledge.” Davis highlighted Martin’s long history of collecting art, noting that he has been involved in the art scene since it was not the hub it is today. “We wanted his firsthand insight into how the landscape has shifted,” he explained.

Davis began working in L.A. galleries around 2009, a pivotal time when local collectors started purchasing works by L.A. artists directly from L.A. galleries, rather than seeking New York’s approval. “Steve confirmed this shift; L.A. collectors used to go to New York to buy local artists’ works,” he said. “Now, it’s transformed into the art hub it is today.”

The collaboration between Martin, Davis, and Schaffner has yielded intriguing results. When Martin mentioned he still had the original bound script of L.A. Story with his annotations, Schaffner said, “We were like, ‘Oh, we want that!’” The script will be displayed open to a specific page, showcasing a scene where Telemacher discusses an abstract painting at LACMA while referencing a puppy and a woman’s blouse.

Nearby, Allen Ruppersberg’s self-published "Greetings From LA" (1972), which features mostly blank pages, will also be featured. “This exhibition aims to challenge the perception that L.A. has lacked culture throughout its history,” Schaffner remarked. “Cinema and filmmaking are undoubtedly part of that culture.”

The exhibition opens with paintings of quintessential Californian backyard swimming pools by Hockney, Fischl, and Rawles, echoing the film’s whimsical imagery. “We start with pools,” Davis said. “It’s thrilling to see Hockney in conversation with Calida Rawles. Then we transition to highways and landscapes with Ruscha and Bradford, before exploring the cultural aspects of the film.”

A piece by Hurtado, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 99, relates to a scene in the film where inclement weather prevents Telemacher’s love interest from leaving the country. Schaffner noted a surprising connection during their research: Martin revealed that this scene was inspired by an Irish ballad about a man wishing for the wind to thwart his love's departure. 

In addition to three works loaned by Martin, the exhibition will feature a commissioned piece by Richard Prince, inspired by a Martin Instagram post depicting Telemacher gazing at a talking roadside sign that offers him advice throughout the film.

Davis and Schaffner also discovered that some New York-based artists spent significant time in L.A. “Richard Prince created some of his first ‘joke’ paintings just a block from the gallery,” Davis shared.

Reflecting on L.A.'s evolving art scene, Schaffner recalled a late 1990s headline from art critic Christopher Knight, who noted that L.A. had yet to document its history. “As we approach this moment of Pacific Standard Time, we recognize that L.A. has indeed been writing its own story, and there’s a whole new narrative to explore,” she concluded.

Sayart / ReaA JUNG queen7203@gmail.com