Raum (Room)

Thomas Demand embraces the idea of photography as a tool by which to manipulate our sense of reality. Drawing from mass-media photographs of historical events, Demand's works reference images that have a sense of familiarity, which tap into the collective consciousness of his viewing audience. On July 20, 1944, members of a group of Nazi conspirators intent on eliminating Adolf Hitler made their seventh and final attempt on the dictator's life. Although the attempted bombing failed to succeed in its mission, news of the attempt spread and images of the scene were circulated in the media. Raum is a recreation of the room where the failed assassination occurred, based upon media photographs.