Andreas Gursky. Long Shot Close Up

Andreas Gursky (Leipzig, 1955) is the most acclaimed and highly valued artist in the field of contemporary photography. Known for his spectacular color images that focus primarily on people, spatiality, and the interaction between these two elements, Gursky has, since the 1990s, experimented with digital technology—initially using computers to retouch his images and later as an additional tool for creation. Accompanied by commentary from Hilla Becher and Werner Spies, who retrace the key moments of his artistic journey by analyzing works such as the renowned 99 cent (1999), Jan Schmidt-Garre’s film explores the artist’s creative process by following him through the making of Hamm, Bergwerk Ost (2008): from the initial scouting of a German mine’s locker rooms to its first exhibition as part of the show Werke Works 80–08, which opened in 2008 at the Kunstmuseen in Krefeld. The film concludes with a personal final reflection by renowned Russian collector Victor Pinchuk.