Thomas Ruff (b. 1958)

"Every photo makes a claim. In order to prove this visual claim is right, I have to set up a whole series of similar shots - like a scientist carrying out a series of experiments. Apart from that, I am convinced that it is not enough to make a portrait of just one person if you want to get an idea of the human being. In order to have as comprehensive a picture as possible, you have to make portraits of as many people as possible. The same applies to houses, heavenly bodies, newspaper photos, night shots and so on, right down to sexual fantasies. A single picture is too little, that is why I work in series."
(T. Ruff in interview with F. Wappler, reproduced in Thomas Ruff, Künstler. Kritisches Lexikon der Gegenwartskunst, issue 53, part 8, 2001, p. 15.)