Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
The Coca-Cola Plan is part of Rauschenberg’s “Combines” series (1954-64), where he not only blurred the lines between sculpture and painting, but also incorporated everyday objects into art, elevating and transforming them into artistic statements. According to the Robert Rauschenger Foundation, the artist “sought to act in the 'gap' between art and life, valuing chance and collaboration across disciplines.”
The Coca-Cola Plan is a vertical trophy-sized wall piece, comprising a narrow rectangular wood frame, with three levels. The top level is covered with brown paper and the “PLAN” in writing. The middle level, open in the back, houses three vintage green glass Coca-Cola bottles. One of the bottles is dripping with thick oil paint in red and orange. Another bottle has a smear of brown and blue-green paint, and the center bottle has no paint. The third level, closed in the back, has a large round carved newel staircase cap. Two metal wings are attached on each side of the wooden frame, at the middle level.
The Coca-Cola Plan is a piece among others in the "Combines" series that is credited with “forever changing the course of American Abstract Expressionism”, removing intense emotions, to engage with everyday life and objects.
Rauschenberg, R. (1958) Coca-Cola Plan – Pencil on paper, oil on three Coca-Cola bottles, wood newel cap, and cast metal wings on wood structure. Permanent Collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles, CA.
https://www.moca.org/collection/work/coca-cola-plan
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