Vintage Cadillac Components Utilized to Construct 16-Foot Cactus Artwork Honoring Palm Springs Legacy
“Cadillactus,” Roger Reutimann, 2024. Stainless steel, automotive paint, reproduction taillights. Installed at Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA.
Like an illusion, the brilliance of Roger Reutimann’s latest installation becomes more apparent as one approaches it. Initially, it seems to be just a simple cactus, its prickle-covered arms emerging from the Californian desert. As you get closer, a metallic glimmer and crimson lights start to reveal themselves. The title of the installation also plays on its combined identity. Situated on Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs is the Cadillactus, a whimsical yet elegant tribute to the city’s artistic legacy.
As its name implies, the artwork merges the shape of a cactus with the mechanical aesthetic of a Cadillac, featuring a stainless steel exterior that easily mirrors the desert light. Its inventive concept is sufficient to capture attention; however, Cadillactus also stands at an impressive height of 16 feet, making it impossible to overlook as vehicles speed by from downtown Palm Springs to the airport.
To authentically reflect the Cadillac, Reutimann utilized reproductions of its 1959 taillights and vibrant automotive paint. These visual strategies not only emphasize the sculpture’s automotive characteristics but also hark back to the car manufacturing industry, incorporating industrial methods like powder coating and metallic finishes throughout. At night, the Cadillac’s renowned taillights glow red, evoking the image of a blooming cactus flower, striking a balance between the sculpture’s natural and mechanical visuals.
According to Reutimann, Cadillactus transcends being merely a “visual pun.” It also pays tribute to Palm Springs and its significant ties to midcentury design. During the postwar period, the city provided a dynamic and rugged backdrop where both artists and architects pushed the boundaries of their crafts. Desert modernism quickly became emblematic of Palm Springs, where visionaries like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, and Donald Wexler designed structures that responded to the vast expanse of the desert and the optimism that marked the mid-20th century. After periods of global turmoil, the future seemed promising, and technology emerged as a powerful entity rather than something to be dismissed or feared.
In this larger context, Cadillactus serves as a captivating reminder of California’s modernist movement, particularly as it developed in and around Palm Springs.
“Palm Springs is globally celebrated for its enthusiasm for modernist design,” Reutimann remarks. “Cars, furniture, architecture—they all embody a timeless aesthetic. Cadillactus is my means of encapsulating that legacy and allowing it to flourish, quite literally, as part of the local scenery.”
To discover more about the artist, visit Roger Reutimann’s website.
As its title implies, Cadillactus by Swiss-American artist Roger Reutimann is an inventive fusion of a cactus and a 1959 Cadillac.
The sculpture, which is positioned along a bustling road in Palm Springs, merges organic and automotive elements to honor the city’s rich historical background and its midcentury modern design.
Roger Reutimann: Website | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to showcase photos by Roger Reutimann.
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