Angry Because It's Plaster, Not Milk 1965

Edward Ruscha’s ‘Angry Because It's Plaster, Not Milk’ features oil on canvas to depict a bird confronting an unexpected object. Oil paint's smooth, blendable qualities allow Ruscha to achieve gradients and textures that mimic the appearance of light and shadow, imbuing the bird and the mysterious object with a heightened sense of realism. But it’s the object itself that’s most intriguing. The title tells us it resembles a cup of milk but is made of plaster. Plaster as a material is often used in construction and sculpture, suggesting durability and permanence, quite different from milk's ephemeral nature. The smooth surface of the plaster contrasts with the fluid expectation of milk. This artwork's strength comes from the relationship between material and meaning, inviting us to reconsider our assumptions about what we see, and the stories materials can tell. It challenges the boundaries between the familiar and the unexpected.