German-born photographer Andreas Gursky, one of the leading figures in contemporary photography, will hold his first solo exhibition in Japan at the National Art Center, Tokyo in Roppongi from July 3 to September 16, and at the National Museum of Art, Osaka from February 1 to May 11, 2014. Andreas Gursky is a member of the "Becher School," one of the most prominent groups in contemporary photography. His large-scale solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in 2001 brought him worldwide recognition. In November 2011, his 1999 work "Rhine 2" (officially written in Roman numerals) was sold at Christie's in New York for approximately $4.33 million (approximately ¥340 million at the time), setting a new record for a work by the photographer, causing a stir. This exhibition features approximately 65 works, carefully selected by Gursky himself, ranging from his early works from the 1980s to his most recent works, all displayed together in a unique venue design. In addition to early masterpieces such as "Rhine 2," "99 Cents" (1999), and "Tokyo Stock Exchange" (1990), the exhibition will also feature "Pyongyang 1" (2007), "F1 Pit Stop 6" (2007), and his latest work, "Qatar" (2012). In recent years, the exhibition will explore the evolution of Gursky's work, which has become increasingly conceptual. Gursky was born in Leipzig, East Germany, in 1955 and emigrated to West Germany as a child. From 1977 to 1981, he studied visual communication at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen under Otto Steinert and Michael Schmidt. He then studied under photography master Bernd Becher at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art from 1985 to 1987. Since 2010, he has been teaching at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art. His style, which resembles abstract paintings captured from a panoramic perspective, has earned him the nickname "a painter who uses photography," and he has captivated celebrities from all walks of life, including Madonna, Elton John, and Michael Schumacher.


[Exhibition Information]
Andreas Gursky Exhibition ANDREAS GURSKY
Dates: July 3rd to September 16th, 2013
Closed: Tuesdays
Opening Hours: 10:00 to 18:00, Fridays until 20:00 (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Venue: Special Exhibition Gallery 1E, The National Art Center, Tokyo
Address: 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Admission Fee: Adults 1,500 yen, University students 1,200 yen, High school students 800 yen, Free for junior high school students and younger