The New Impressionists

I came to a realization at Paris' Musee de la Arte Moderne: Thomas Ruff has created a new brand of impressionism. (Before you go off and google him, realize that what will come up in the images results are similar to what you'll find for Terry Richardson - porn-like images that dont deliver an artistic message without the benefit of context - don't go there - esp if you're at work. Gawd, mentioning Richardson's name to my boss in that meeting was awful...)



Ruff's large scale jpegs (4x7) at the Musee de la Arte Moderne were pixelated landscapes: gardens, forests, desert encampments. Clashing contrast to his pixelated buildings being destroyed, or the previously mentioned nudes - those works are more about immediate sensory perception and the internet or tv news as a channel for information. The landscapes are simple in their beauty and purpose. These pics dont give them justice - size maters here...




This interview with Ruff in PopPhoto is cool for background on the artist (German, Dusseldorf, Becher school, influenced by fine art no photo, etc)