Atlas of Landscapes in a Room

COL 001 Collages herman de vries *1931

Header image:
From the forest floor, 2010
© herman de vries

De Vries aims to realize a visual language that is as objective as possible: a means of expression in which the subjective “creative hand” of the artist is absent. Many of his early (white) works can be regarded as autonomous expressions of art in the sense that they refer primarily to themselves. The more recent works also have an engaged character, partly due to their direct relation with nature. They can be experienced as subtle statements about the relationship between humanity and nature, as well as about the alienation of humanity from nature. Such interpretations are mainly underpinned by the knowledge that human action is threatening nature worldwide. Above all, de vries shows us the beauty and detailed wealth of nature. herman de vries enables us to take a fresh look at things. He registers, collects and arranges. He confronts us with the processes and phenomena of nature: the original biotope of humanity from which we have now become estranged due to technological, industrial and cultural developments.

collected bern 8.11.1976
(gingko biloba), 1976

All following images:
© herman de vries