“‘Vom Weg Abkommen’ means in German ‘to lead astray,’ making reference to the first absurd conduct between the editor and photographer of this book. Neither of them will ever be able to pronounce its title correctly.”
This absurdity is the first of many in this book, as Gross captures people in the wee hours of the night, at the height of their exorbitant drunken activities. “He photographs drunk people but he is usually more drunk than the people he portraits,” said David Heofs, the editor, adding another comical layer. “… He achieves to impose his point of view and leads his characters (and partymates) to the same situations in one city or another. Inside his universe you can find references to traditions, religion, dinosaurs, fast food, sex, alcohol, animals (mostly cats) and Spanish folklore.” Through this eclectic, somewhat wacky, assortment Gross manages to capture the sensation of the overstimulation of intoxication and provides an intimate view of the follies and joys of humanity.