Different Quote by Thomas Ruff
“I've been collecting photographs since I don't know when, for a long time, for different reasons. You can find them on eBay and when we were browsing through the shops there were images that attracted me. These are all historical images because these days they're all digital. They don't exist anymore.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art Basel, 2015, Thomas Ruff discussing his photography practice
He reflects on his lifelong habit of collecting photographs, noting the shift from physical to digital and the loss of originals
In simple terms: Collecting photos is a long‑term habit, now mostly digital and fleeting
Key Takeaway
Preserve moments before they disappear
Themes
photography
memory
digital transition
collecting
history
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
contemplative
Type
personal
historical
When to use this quote
- personal archives
- museum curation
- family photo albums
- online marketplaces
Key Concepts
archival practice
materiality
ephemerality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does digitization affect our relationship to the past?
- What value do physical photographs hold today?
A Different Perspective
Digital copies lack the tactile authenticity of originals
