Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above

This work appears in excellent condition overall. There are no apparent condition issues with this work. Framed under Plexiglas.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

“Andreas Gursky’s large color photographs vividly encapsulate our world of high-tech industry, global markets, easy travel and slick commerce. Gursky has tracked the contemporary zeitgeist from his native Germany to such far-flung places as Hong Kong, Brasília, Cairo, New York, Shanghai, Stockholm, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore and Los Angeles.” (Exh. Cat., New York, Museum of Modern Art, Andreas Gursky, March – May 2001, front cover flap)

The present work, Taipei, depicts a colossal hotel atrium 🐈in the eponymous capital city of Taiwan, a province of the Republic of China, situated just off of the eastern coast of mainland China. As the cultural and economic nucleus of Taiwan, Taipei has been at the center of rapid economic development, and is now considered to be one ꦉof the most technologically advanced cities globally.

“'Globalization’ – our umbrella term for the relentless process that has created this well-lit world of easy travel, abundant goods, international markets, inescapable brand names, regimented grids and sparkling surfaces, all of it smelling of money – is itself by now a cliché.” (Peter Galassi in Ibid., p. 39)

Gursky’s Taipei is a visually sumptuous image, articulating palpable luxury in a thriving economy. At first glance, the image recalls Gursky’s frenetic stock exchanges or endless building façades, but under closer inspection, Taipei is unique in its detailed architectural embellishments and theatrical presentation. The composition is ordered in a regimented, structured grid, majestically lit and elegantly organized, rendering Taipei one of the most dramatically breathtaking images of Gursky’s oeuvre. As MoMA curator Peter Galassi hails,“Andreas Gursky’s best pictures of the past decade knock your socks off, and they’re meant to. They’re big, bold, full of color and full of surprise.” (Peter Galassi in Ibid., p. 9)