German photographer Thomas Ruff's recent "press++" series appropriates images from American magazines of the '50s and '60s, including images of Hollywood actresses.
"press++32.65" (2016) by Thomas Ruff —
German photographer Thomas Ruff's recent "press++" series appropriates images from American magazines of the '50s and '60s, including images of Hollywood actresses.
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
Ruff focused on news clippings about the space race and sci-fi before moving to Hollywood press photos.
"press++32.54" (2016) by Thomas Ruff —
Ruff focused on news clippings about the space race and sci-fi before moving to Hollywood press photos.
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
He said he was as intrigued by the information on the backs of the photos as he was by the images themselves.
"press++33.17" (2016) by Thomas Ruff —
He said he was as intrigued by the information on the backs of the photos as he was by the images themselves.
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"You have all this additional information like what's in the picture, when it was published. Sometimes you even have a cut-out of the original article from the newspaper," he said.
"press++32.51" (2016) by Thomas Ruff —
"You have all this additional information like what's in the picture, when it was published. Sometimes you even have a cut-out of the original article from the newspaper," he said.
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
For Ruff these images are undeniably nostalgic, harking back to his childhood in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany.
"press++32.67" (2016) by Thomas Ruff —
For Ruff these images are undeniably nostalgic, harking back to his childhood in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany.
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"I was watching TV when Armstrong put his foot on the moon ... All these images deal with the promises and desires of a young boy," he said.
"press++32.58" (2016) by Thomas Ruff —
"I was watching TV when Armstrong put his foot on the moon ... All these images deal with the promises and desires of a young boy," he said.
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"press++32.50" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
"press++32.50" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"press++32.70" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
"press++32.70" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"press++50.62" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
"press++50.62" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"press++50.08" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
"press++50.08" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers
"press++51.14" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
"press++51.14" (2016) by Thomas Ruff
Courtesy Thomas Ruff/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2017/Sprüth Magers