Natura artis magistra

Nature is the master of art and science

Natura artis magistra: nature is the master of art and science. In the work of herman de vries (Alkmaar, 1931), natural processes play a significant role. Nature is the primal source of life; the processes and phenomena that occur within it form the basis of our understanding of reality. By consciously experiencing them, we arrive at the essence of human existence. Seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and tasting are sensory experiences and lead to awareness.

Artifacts from Nature

In his works with vegetation, herman de vries shows us artifacts from nature. He collects, arranges, and presents them as they appear to him. Many of these works are literally cut-outs from reality, pressed between cardboard and glass, with which he represents nature more realistically than a painter or draftsman could. He also exhibits collections he makes of, for example, leaves from the same tree or plant. They are all of the same species, but unique in their appearance due to unpredictable processes in nature.

“Listen!”

With the sound work natura artis magistra, a recording of bird sounds, de vries effectively says: “Listen!” and intensifies our sensory perception (hearing) without adding personal commentary.

In the summer of 2022, a marble column was placed in the garden of Museum Kranenburgh with the following text:

I see | I smell | I taste | I hear | I feel | I think | I eat | I drink | I breathe | I piss | I shit | I love | so | I am | this

herman de vries thus essentially depicts how we relate to the reality around us through sensory experiences. These are experiences that are all-determining for our consciousness.