Andreas Gursky / Allen Ruppersberg

20.05–04.07.1994
de Appel, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10, Amsterdam

Andreas Gursky, Autosalon Paris, 1993
© Andreas Gursky, Düsseldorf / Dusseldorf

Andreas Gursky, Montparnasse Paris, 1993
© Andreas Gursky, Düsseldorf / Dusseldorf

Allen Ruppersberg, Untitled, 1991 & 1994
© Cary Markerink, Amsterdam

Allen Ruppersberg, Untitled (detail), 1991 & 1994
© Cary Markerink, Amsterdam

Andreas Gursky is next to Candida Höfer, Axel Hütte, Thomas Ruff and Thomas Struth one of the best-known former students of Hilla and Bernd Becher at the Dusseldorf Academy. Characteristic of the 'Becher school' is the rejection of experimentation and subjectivism. From 1984 onwards, Gursky separated himself from these ideas. Individualism and subjectivism began to play a role in his photography. Gursky takes his large-format colour photographs from a high viewpoint, without focusing at a particular spot. This results in panoramic views, in which persons are no individuals, but parts of the environment that brings them together. These environments vary from swimming pools to factory interiors and from ski slopes to industrial landscapes. As with a bird's-eye view, Gursky pictures situations that bring to light patterns, organisations and structures. Following the exhibition a catalogue was published: Andreas Gursky. Photographs 1984-1993, 1994. De Appel & Deichtorhallen Hamburg. Text: Saskia Bos, Zdenek Felix, Rudolf Schmitz. English. Incl. bio- & bibliography. 128 pages: 64 colour, 1 black and white, 22.3 x 26.4 cm. Hardcover. ISBN 3 88814 636 4. SOLD OUT During the opening of Gursky's exhibition, also a work by Allen Ruppersberg was presented. On the attic of Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10, he had realised a tile floor that referred to language, alphabet and arthistorical categories. The black and white tile floor, in which several texts were integrated, was shown in the former location of De Appel at Prinseneiland three years earlier. The Mondriaan Foundation supported the realisation of this design, that was adapted to the new location. The floor would become a suitable 'background' for the openings and a good soil for the Curatorial Training Programme that was accommodated there from September 1994. For the presentation of Allen Ruppersberg no new catalogue was made, but the following publication was given new relevance: Allen Ruppersberg, 1991. Text: Dirk ‘The Nighthawk’ van Weelden. Dutch & English. Incl. bio- & bibliography. 88 pages: 24 f.c., 11.5 x 17.5 cm. Softcover. Design: Irma Boom. ISBN 90 73501 12 1. SOLD OUT