Substrat, 2002-2003

Deemed the ‘master of edited and reimagined images’, Thomas Ruff is a photographer renowned for his use of technological advancements as a means of bringing new meaning and visual possibilities to his field. Press++ is among the photographer’s most notable works and is comprised of numerous images that had been published in American newspapers and magazines between the 1920’s and 1970’s, later sourced by Ruff on eBay - in producing the works, he scanned the front and back of the images and digitally combined them, with consideration taken of touch-ups, scribbles and date stamps. Among Ruff’s wider oeuvre are expressionless portraits, blurred pornography, domestic interiors and internet-sourced JPEGs. Heavily inspired by his teachers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Ruff learned from their expertise in straight photography; Joel Meyerowitz and Stephen Shore are among his other early influences.