Thomas Ruff "Interierus" 1979-1983

It is of special interest the architectural interior portraits of Thomas Ruff. In these photographs there is a clear interest of revealing the essence of one specific period of time by means of different parts of different domestic interiors, using space to symbolise time. What follows is a description of this set of images analysed by http://www.union-gallery.com.

"While these subjects may appear to be distinct from one another they are linked by Ruff’s conceptual approach to image-making and a fascination with the processes of photography and image manipulation, as well as the viewers’ perception. In each instance he examines how the subject has been approached by other photographers. He also looks at different techniques in order to exploit what they can offer. These processes inform his decisions on production and how the final image will look.His first series Interieurs (1979-83) comprised views of domestic settings. Ruff was concerned with capturing an ‘essence’ of these spaces so that those who encountered the photographs would then identify with homes of a certain era –their furnishings acting as signifiers. So, while each space was denoted as individual -a result of the home-making of the inhabitants- the series could also be read as a collective image of a particular period "