herman de vries

herman de vries began his career as a biological field researcher, an experience that left a lasting impact on his art. In the 1950s and 60s, he used scientific methods to explore the interplay between order and chance in nature, resulting in his first toevalswerken. Around 1970, he made a radical shift: he came to see nature itself as the ultimate work of art. From that point on, he devoted himself entirely to collecting and organising natural materials – leaves, stones, and soil – with which he created his iconic nature-based works.

The exhibition invites visitors into his world, from his earliest artistic experiments to his profound connection with nature. This deep bond is particularly evident in the Steigerwald, the German forest near his home, which serves as a major source of inspiration for his work.

The exhibition at Rijksmuseum Twenthe brings together all phases of de vries’ oeuvre for the first time. Highlights include the monumental toevalsreliëf (1967) – a special loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam – and the impressive installation la gomera, in which he presents the Canary Island as a total work of art. In addition, previously unseen archival materials and documentation shed new light on his early years as an artist.