In the 1950s Art Informel painting showed herman de vries his own way to art; in the 1960s he belonged to the international ZERO movement and worked on his white paintings. From such radical reduction, the artist became fascinated with the interplay between art and nature. de vries' oeuvre comprises paintings, collages, graphic works, text images, sculptures, artist books and installations for public spaces. He has also contributed to art theory as an essayist and philosopher.
The 2019 Gerhard-Altenbourg-Preis pays tribute to a body of work based on a comprehensive concept of art. The catalogue includes works from seven decades of de vries' artistic practice. Three different essays concentrate on the subjects of nature, philosophy and art history in de vries' works.