First published 2018
The palm tree, a symbol of prosperity and paradise, is scrutinized through contemporary art. Bret Easton Ellis explores how this ubiquitous emblem has come to represent luxury, jetset culture, and eternal sunshine in the secular world. Elegant paintings, sculptures, and installations by renowned artists like Hockney and Ruscha reveal the palm’s visual seduction and metaphorical complexities. What lies beneath this icon’s popular appeal?
Genres: art, contemporary, non-fiction, cultural
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-critique, visual-analysis
157 pages · Hardcover · Hatje Cantz