PRACTICAL INFORMATION
From researcher to artist
herman de vries began his career as a biological field researcher – an experience that left a lasting mark on his artistic practice. In the 1950s and 60s, he applied scientific methods to explore order and chance in nature, resulting in his earliest chance-based works.
Around 1970, he made a radical shift: he came to see nature itself as the ultimate artwork. From that point on, he devoted himself to collecting and arranging natural materials – leaves, stones, soil – through which he created his iconic nature-based works. The exhibition takes visitors into his world, from his first artistic experiments to his profound connection with nature. This is especially evident in the Steigerwald, the forested region near his home in Germany, which serves as a major source of inspiration for his work.
Around 1970, he made a radical shift: he recognised that nature itself is the ultimate work of art. From then on, he focused entirely on collecting and arranging natural materials – leaves, stones and soil – through which he created his iconic nature-based works. The exhibition invites visitors into his world, from his earliest artistic experiments to his deep connection with the natural environment. This connection is especially visible in the Steigerwald, the forested region near his home in Germany, which continues to inspire much of his work.
Unique works and never-before-seen archive material
For the first time, Rijksmuseum Twenthe brings together all phases of herman de vries’ oeuvre in one exhibition. Highlights include the monumental toevalsreliëf (1967) – a special loan from the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam – and the striking installation la gomera, in which he presents the Canary Island as a total artwork. The exhibition also features never-before-shown archival materials and documentation that shed new light on his early years as an artist.
An ode to herman de vries
This exhibition not only offers a comprehensive overview of de vries’ artistic practice, but also pays tribute to his influential vision of art and nature. In a dedicated ‘ode room’, his work enters into dialogue with that of contemporary artists melanie bonajo, Milah van Zuilen, Stefan Cools and Nan Groot Antink – all of whom have drawn inspiration from his practice. The exhibition reveals how his ideas continue to resonate with a new generation of artists, and how relevant his oeuvre remains today.
More than sixty works
With over sixty works on display across nine museum galleries and the inner courtyard, herman de vries: 70 years of nature as a work of art is the most comprehensive exhibition of his oeuvre to date. A richly illustrated publication will accompany the exhibition, alongside an extensive public programme.
Guest curator: Cees de Boer
Exhibition design: PutGootink
