Substrat 34 I
"Substrat 34 I" is a chromogenic print by Thomas Ruff that exemplifies his systematic exploration of photographic materiality and abstraction. The work belongs to his Substrat series, wherein Ruff photographs the surfaces of various materials and substrates, transforming mundane textures into richly colored abstract compositions. Through this process, Ruff challenges conventional notions of photographic representation, prioritizing the formal qualities of color, pattern, and surface texture over representational content.
- Medium
- Chromogenic print in colors, on photo paper, with full margins.
- Location
- Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT
- Spotted At
- Auction House · PhillipsView on map
🔨 Auction Lot
Editions & Works on Paper
February 12, 2025
Lot 168
Collectors with works by Thomas Ruff
Artists in conversation
Andreas Gursky
German · b. 1955
Gursky similarly employs large scale chromogenic prints with extensive digital manipulation to transform surfaces and environments into abstract compositions, sharing Ruff's systematic interrogation of photographic materiality and pattern.
Wolfgang Tillmans
German · b. 1968
Tillmans explores photographic abstraction through his Freischwimmer and Blushes series, where chemical and light processes create richly colored abstract surfaces that similarly challenge conventional photographic representation.
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Japanese · b. 1948
Sugimoto shares Ruff's conceptual approach to photography as a medium for exploring surface texture and materiality, using large format prints to transform physical substrates into minimalist abstract compositions with strong formal qualities.
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