OLAF BREUNING

CHANGE

In 2002, Begona, a dear friend asked me to shoot the cover for her upcoming record in Bilbao. I agreed and came up with a concept. I want to shoot a photograph with many people protesting against something. We looked for a location and found this end-of-the-world-looking spot under a massive highway bridge. Begona knew many people in Bilbao, and it was easy to find many protagonists for the photo. My idea was that this large group of people protest against anything wrong and only move if something changes. All of them are wearing clown noses to indicate they are rather pessimistic about their endeavor, knowing that maybe nothing will change. While we set up the scene, I gave one of the crew the job of spraying “We Only Move When Something Changes” on the bridge column. His English could have been better, and “When” became “Wehen”. Those are precisely the tiny mistakes I love to find in my work. These slight imperfections make the work more human and charming. There is only so much we can control.

We Only Move Wehen Something Changes, 2002, C-Print, 5 Ed. + 2 AP: 122 x 155 cm (48 x 61 in.) 10 Ed. + 2 AP: 80 x 100 cm (32 x 39 in.)