Immediate thoughts on Identification bring only shape, form and pattern, rather than character. I think of identifying a human, with recognisable features and lines, not of a person with personality and hobbies. A cold view of this subject however necessary none the less.
Thomas Ruff – ‘Other Portraits’
Ruff’s ‘Other Portraits’ are in somewhat of a similar response to Identification to that of myself. Superimposing two of his portraits and then using the base of Andy Warhol’s ‘Most wanted criminals’, he then took a photograph of the face construct and printed.
His response is that of multiple images, being impossible to depict a personality or fix an identity. He uses a series of portraits symbolising the fact that there are millions of people, identifying one is no important than the other.
‘The portraits are about each individual and at the same time about all individuals’.
There is a very reliable style to his portraits. Common lighting and poise, same facial expressions and background. Almost exactly like passport photographs; The most commonly widespread form of identification in our everyday lives, these portraits are depicted straight from the criminal identification photographs as well as common passports.
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