herman de vries (stylised in lowercase) is a pioneering artist whose work traverses the realms of art, nature, and philosophy.
With a background in botany, his practice is deeply rooted in the natural world, using found materials like soil, plants, and ash to explore themes of chance, order, and the interconnectedness of life. At the heart of his practice is a radical philosophy of equality – the belief that all natural phenomena hold equal significance. This principle even extends to his own name, which he writes without capital letters as a gesture of oneness with nature.
herman de vries representing the Netherlands for the 2015 Venice Biennale.
A key figure in the Zero (or in Dutch, ‘Nul’) movement of the 1960s, de vries moved beyond minimalism to develop his own poetic visual language, incorporating elements from his extensive travels and interest in psychedelics and natural medicines, as well as his deep engagement with Eastern philosophy. His works, whether delicately pressed flowers or immersive earth installations, invite quiet reflection on nature’s beauty and ephemerality.
Beginning 24th May 2025, the Rijksmuseum Twenthe is opening its doors to a major retrospective on the work of herman de vries. Highlights of the exhibition include the monumental ‘chance relief’ from the 1960s, specially loaned by the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, the room-filling installation ‘la gomera’ and his iconic ‘leaf books’.
herman de vries, Aus dem Fenster. By Katharina Winterhalter
