Go See: Andreas Gursky at Matthew Marks Gallery, New York, through December 24th, 2008

November 12th, 2008


‘Hamm Bergswerk OST’ (2008) by Andreas Gursky, via Matthew Marks Gallery

Andreas Gursky’s sixth exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery is currently on display. The exhibit features five photographs, all taken within the last two years including two pictures of Cocoon, a massive nightclub in Frankfurt designed by Gursky’s friend Sven Vath, a well known electronic musician and DJ. The club’s name inspires its architecture, as it mimics a hive or the imagined insides of a cocoon, and the photographs depict swarms of people dancing, extending the metaphor. The Cocoon pieces follow Gursky’s interest in electronic music, and previous photographs of large raves and electronic music concerts. ‘Hamm Bergswerk OST’ was shot in a coal mine close to Dusseldorf, Gursky’s home town, depicting the ceiling of one of the mine’s locker rooms, where the miners store their clothes in an unconventional way. While the exhibition is small, the scale of the photographs is very large, typically towering over the viewer, with broad panoramas full of absorbing detail that immerses the spectator.

ANDREAS GURSKY
through December 23rd, 2008
Matthew Marks Gallery
523 W 24th Street
New York, NY

Exhibition page: Andreas Gursky
Press Release: Andreas Gursky at Mathew Marks Gallery
Artist Page: Andreas Gursky
No glow sticks required [GQ]


‘Cocoon I,’ (2008) by Andreas Gursky, via Matthew Marks Gallery

Trained at the Kunstacademie in Dusseldorf, Gursky is not only known for the sheer scale of his photographs, but also as the record holder for the highest price paid for a photograph. ’99 Cents II (Diptych)’ was sold for 1.7 million British pounds (then $3.3 million dollars) at a Sotheby’s auction in 2007.


‘Cocoon II,’ (2008) by Andreas Gursky, via Matthew Marks Gallery


‘Untitled XV’ (2008) by Andreas Gursky, via Matthew Marks Gallery


‘Untitled XVI’ (2008) by Andreas Gursky, via Matthew Marks Gallery


‘Bahrain I,’ by Andreas Gursky, via Artnet


‘Teneriffa Bajamar’ (1987) by Andreas Gursky, via Artnet


‘Kamiokande’ (2007) by Andreas Gursky, via Artnet


’99 Cents II (Diptych)’ (2001) by Andreas Gursky, via Artnet