Peter Herrmann - painting greetings from Berlin and the art in the GDR

"Painter greetings from Berlin" - that was called the artist Peter Herrmann his last exhibition, which contained works after the Millenium year. "The silver Peter" - as he jokingly calls himself because of his brighter hair, is truly no more young artist, and yet he has hardly lost his energy and productivity.

The neutral viewer of his works may happen that the paintings of the brush tour of a very young man or even a child come from. In fact, his late representations are characterized by a quick and flat style - difficult to believe that he can look back on a whole life as a painter.

At second glance, however, it is not inexperience behind it, but rather a newly gained freedom and carefree, which becomes visible. This development becomes all the more impressive when you consider that Herrmann can look back on a true cornucopia of all kinds of experiences and was particularly shaped by the post -war years. And it is often scenes from his life, his everyday life, from his environment, which he puts on paper and on the screen.

A brief review of Herrmann's life

Peter Herrmann was born in Großschönau near Zittau and grew up in Dresden. In 1953 Herrmann became a member of the artist group first Phalanx Nedserd . In Dresden, he worked as a chemigraph until 1970.

Jürgen Böttcher (painter Strawalde) portrayed “three of many” have had a great influence on him From 1971 he belonged to the “Lücke” artist group .

He then left his family and the GDR in 1982. He traveled from the GDR to the West with an artist colleague. This decision should not have been too easy for him, after all he had a close relationship with his family.

This can also be seen in his pictures, which his parents show at home on Sunday afternoon, or the father in uniform as a war return.

He also dedicated this picture to his father. Nevertheless, his step has a consistent effect because the political system of the then German Democratic Republic was obvious for him. At first Herrmann went to Hamburg and a few time later in 1986. He still lives and works there.

quote from Wilhelm von Humboldt understood , which adorns the homepage of his gallery:

"Especially the diversity that arises from the unification of several is the highest asset that gives society, and this variety is certainly always lost in the degree of interference of the state. (...) Uniform causes have uniform effects. The more the state is involved, the more similar is not all -acting, but also everything was done."

Here, with the words of the Prussian scholar and writer, he expresses his own criticism of the influence of a totalitarian and autocratic regime in the design freedom of the individual within a society. It is not surprising that he rejects as creatively creative central control and synchronization, as he had probably experienced in the GDR at that time.

If you look at the latest developments in the political landscape within Europe or the USA, Russia or the Middle East, this criticism is more topical than ever.

Herrmann's Oeuvre - 40 years in the service of art

From 1987 to 2013, Peter Herrmann organized more than 300 exhibitions . In 25 years of gallery activity, he only allowed himself once! 10 days of vacation, which he then also combined with studio visits. This testifies to an enormous active, passionate and tireless spirit. Art has had to be a little behind since 2013.

Hermann's works in particular through his memories and the courage he shows to color. Some of his pictures show strong colors. But he can also give it differently, with colors that quiet tones. Pastel tones on the canvas can then be seen here.

In addition to his picturesque stories, he also created an abundance of abstract works . Again and again Hermann rediscovers art, painting and history of art and skillfully varies his approach and artistic work. The following article also gives an insight into the life and work of Herrmann: flat art on canvas .

Because of his biography, it is not surprising that the capital is always an issue in his pictures. The wall, raisin bomber, the memorial church, the egg man tower were processed in its motifs. A picture with the Berlin air looks quite ironic, represented with a smoking grill and sausages lying on it.

Permanent works by Peter Herrmann are currently located in the Berlinische Galerie , the Gallery New Master of the State Art Collections in Dresden, in the Museum Ludwig in Cologne and in the Museum Junge Kunst in Frankfurt (Oder).

With the sculptor Hans Scheib, he formed a studio community, from which three well -known exhibitions emerged. The exhibition "Bleu de Prusse" was even shown in 1989 in the Goethe Institute in Paris. Also a highlight of his artistic career is the "Golden Pot" , which was exhibited former Dresden art association Bonn headquarters of the German Research Foundation "Peter Herrmann - Hans Scheib" showed an overview.

Peter Herrmann was honored in 1998 with the Prize of Villa Romana Florence, and in 2001 he finally received the Fred Thieler Prize for painting .

If you read the current articles and articles carefully on the artist's homepage, then you consider that he still has this fire and, with great curiosity, follows the developments and technologies of our modern world and questioned critically.

His latest article gives an insight into the otherness of the use of the Internet on the Black Continent Africa and also deals with the effects that has the world of art ...