Andreas Gursky, 2013, credit: Hpschaefer via wikipedia
Andreas Gursky is a German contemporary photographer born on January 15, 1955 in Leipzig. He is known for his large-format works that capture urban and industrial landscapes, as well as scenes of daily life.
Biography
Andreas Gursky (born January 15, 1955) is a German photographer. His works fetch the highest prices on the art market among contemporary photographers.
He shares a studio with Laurenz Berges, Thomas Ruff and Axel Hütte on Hansaallee, Düsseldorf. The building, a former power station, was converted into an artists' studio and living quarters in 2001 by architects Herzog & de Meuron, famous for their work at the Tate Modern. In 2010-2011, the architects again worked on the building, designing a gallery in the basement.
He was born in Leipzig, East Germany in 1955. His family moved to West Germany, settling in Essen and then Düsseldorf in late 1957. From 1978 to 1981 he studied visual communication at the University Gesamthochschule Essen, led by photographers Otto Steinert and Michael Schmidt. He reportedly attended college to listen to Steinert, but Steinert died in 1978 and he was only able to attend a few of his lectures.
Between 1981 and 1987 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf, he received significant training and influence from his teachers Hilla and Bernd Becher, a photography duo known for their distinctive and deadpan method of systematically cataloging machinery and l industrial architecture. he takes a similar, methodical approach in his own larger-scale work. Other notable influences include British artist John Davies, whose detailed images taken from above had a strong influence on Gursky's photographs taken at street level, and to a lesser extent American artist Joel Sternfeld .
The photograph
Prior to the 1990s, he did not manipulate digitally. Since then, he has openly acknowledged his reliance on computers to edit and enhance his photos, creating an art form that goes beyond the subjects photographed. Critics have described her work as "huge", "spectacular", "captivating" and "literally incredible". He is considered one of the "two masters" of the Düsseldorf School of Photography.
Perspective in his shots is often taken from above, allowing the viewer to embrace scenes that are normally inaccessible, encompassing both center and periphery. This global perspective is often associated with a commitment to globalization. Visually, he is drawn to vast, artificial, anonymous spaces - facades of skyscrapers at night, entrance halls of office buildings, stock exchanges, interiors of department stores. His style is enigmatic and impassive, and his photos are direct, without explanation or manipulation.
Among his most famous references is that of the Dance Valley festival taken near Amsterdam in 1995, which shows the participants in front of a DJ stage in a large arena, under strobe light effects. Another striking visual is "99 Cent" (1999), taken at a 99 Cents Only store on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. It represents the interior of the store with its parallel shelves and its white columns, creating a set of colors generated by the identical products, reflecting on the shiny ceiling. Another emblematic is "Rhein II" (1999), which shows a stretch of the Rhine near Düsseldorf and which can be interpreted as a view of a straight body of water or as an abstract configuration of horizontal bands of different widths.
In his six-part series titled "Ocean I-VI" (2009-2010), he used high-definition satellite views which he augmented from various image sources on the Internet.
Since 2010, he has been represented by the Gagosian Gallery. It held the record for the highest price ever paid at auction for a single photographic image from 2011 to 2022. "Rhein II" sold for $4,338,500 at Christie's in New York on November 8, 2011. In 2013, "Chicago Board of Trade III" (1999-2009) sold for $3,298,755, setting an auction record for it.
Main works
"Rhine II" (1999): The Rhine near Düsseldorf has become one of the most expensive works.
"99 Cent II Diptychon" (2001): This two-part composition features the interior of a 99 Cents Only store in Los Angeles.
"Paris, Montparnasse" (1993): This capture of the Montparnasse tower in Paris, highlighting the towering verticality of the structure.
"Kuwait Stock Exchange" (2007): This image depicts the trading floor of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, with its bright screens and financial bustle.
"Chicago Board of Trade III" (1999-2009): It depicts the trading hall of the Chicago Board of Trade, with its traders and information screens.
"May Day IV" (2000): Features a huge crowd gathered at the May Day celebration in Dortmund, Germany.
"Bangkok" (2011): Depicts an aerial view of Bangkok, showing a densely populated and ever-changing city.
"Amazon" (2016): Highlights the scale of Amazon's warehouse, illustrating large-scale logistics and consumption.
"Prada II" (1997): Features the interior of a Prada store in New York, exposing the seductive and superficial nature of luxury fashion.
"Tokyo Stock Exchange" (1990): Captures the frenetic atmosphere of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's trading floor, reflecting the frenetic pace of the global economy.
The publications
"Photographs from 1984 to the Present" (1998): This retrospective book presents a selection of his photographs, offering an overview of his artistic evolution since 1984.
"Andreas Gursky" (2001): This publication accompanies a retrospective exhibition organized by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
"Works 80-08" (2008): This book offers a comprehensive overview of Gursky over a period of nearly 30 years. It contains numerous reproductions as well as analytical texts.
"Landscapes" (2012): This publication focuses on Gursky's landscapes. It highlights his exploration of urban, industrial and natural spaces around the world.
"Andreas Gursky" (2016): This catalog accompanies a retrospective exhibition organized by the National Gallery in London. It offers an in-depth analysis of Gursky.
Prizes and Awards
Hasselblad International Photography Prize (1998): He was honored with this prestigious prize, which recognizes his exceptional contribution to the development of the profession.
Cultural Prize of the German Society of Photography (1998): This award was given to him for his significant influence on the craft.
Infinity Award for Art from the International Center of Photography (2002): He was awarded for his outstanding achievements.
Nordrhein-Westfalen Art Prize (2010): He was honored with this prize in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of visual art.
Kassel Artist's Book Award (2017): He won this award for his artist's book entitled "Bangkok". This award highlights his talent as a multidisciplinary artist.
Main exhibitions
"Photographs from 1984 to the Present" (1998): This retrospective exhibition organized by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York allowed the public to discover a key selection of Gursky from the beginning of his career.
"Andreas Gursky" (2001): This retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York featured a wide range of Gursky's photographs.
"Andreas Gursky" (2011): This exhibition, held at the Hayward Gallery in London, presented a selection of Gursky's images, including his famous work "Rhine II".
"Not Abstract II" (2018): This exhibition at Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf featured Gursky's landscapes, exploring his use of space and perspective.
Andreas Gursky's influences in contemporary culture
Television: Television series like "Mr. Robot" and "Black Mirror" have used his aesthetic to create scenes that reflect modern society and the dehumanization caused by technology. Wide shots, the use of symmetry and digital manipulation are visual elements that echo his y style.
Cinema: In the sci-fi film "Blade Runner 2049" directed by Denis Villeneuve, its influence is evident in the depiction of dystopian cityscapes. The vast expanses of buildings, the play of light and the geometric compositions are reminiscent of its distinctive style.
Fashion: Fashion brands like Prada and Louis Vuitton have used her visuals in their advertising campaigns. His grandiose compositions and urban spaces correspond to the modern and luxurious aesthetics of these brands, creating a visual synergy between fine art photography and the world of fashion.
Advertisement: The car brand Audi used one of its photographs in one of its television advertisements. She featured an aerial view of a crowded freeway, emphasizing the notion of speed and mobility, themes that are often found in her work.
Contemporary art: Many contemporary artists are inspired by his style in their own works. For example, photographer Edward Burtynsky explores industrial and environmental landscapes in a manner similar to his own, capturing scenes that invite reflection on social and environmental issues.
Andreas Gursky Quotes
"My photographs are tableaux of an intensified reality. They are based on reality, but they are also a reconstruction of reality."
"I'm not a documentary photographer. I'm not out to capture raw reality. I'm interested in how we as human beings interact with our environment."
"To me, photography is a way to create images that reveal hidden or unnoticed aspects of our world. I want viewers to step back and reflect on how they view and experience their surroundings."
"The size of my photographs is important. It creates an immersion in the image, a feeling of being transported to another world. I want viewers to feel the impact and power of the image."
"I am fascinated by anonymous spaces and places where individuals get lost in the mass. I seek to represent the dynamics of crowds, the flows and movements of modern society."
10 incongruous things to know about Andreas Gursky
Although he is famous for his large format photos, he uses a medium-sized camera. He then uses digital editing techniques to enlarge and compose them.
He is known for his meticulous approach to the post-production of his work. He can spend hours or even days retouching every detail to achieve the desired end result.
Despite his worldwide fame, he remains a discreet and reserved man. He prefers to let his works speak for him and generally avoids the media and interviews.
He is a big fan of electronic music. He has often mentioned that music, especially trance music, influences him in his artistic work.
In addition to photography, he is passionate about architecture. He is interested in urban structures and how they influence our perception of space.
He is an art collector himself. It has an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, including pieces by renowned artists such as Gerhard Richter and Jeff Wall.
He is also known for his practice of yoga. He believes in the importance of balance and harmony, both in his artistic work and in his personal life.
Despite his frequent use of urban imagery, he also enjoys exploring natural environments. His landscape photographs, although lesser known, exhibit a similar aesthetic to his urban works.
HE attaches great importance to the printing of his photographs. He is involved in the printing process of his works and ensures that every detail, from the color to the texture of the paper, is perfectly in line with his artistic vision.
Although he uses digital technology for the post-production of his photographs, he is attached to traditional methods of presentation. He favors framed prints and large installations.
Jean Dubreil