Texts by Volker Hermes,Till-Holger Borchert, Francesca Raimondi
Volker Hermes: Hidden Portraits gathers the essential works by one of the most beguiling artists of the present era, in a very modern reinterpretation of historical privilege.
Using only elements of the original paintings, Volker Hermes masterfully alters photos of historical portraits to mask the faces of their subjects. With each figure concealed under their own ceremonial attire, these one-time elites quickly lose their individuality in a plume of decorations and accessories.
In this official collection, Hermes delivers his wry commentary on wealth, fame and social status with taut imagery, intense focus and a suitably shrewd sense of humour. His immaculately reproduced artworks are accompanied by the thoughts of German art historian Till-Holger Borchert and Professor Francesca Raimondi of Berlin’s Institute for Philosophy, as well as the artist himself.
A must-have revision of classical portraiture from a celebrated digital creator.
“Hermes’s meticulously described collages pay homage to their sources while gently ribbing the social pretensions and ambitions of the courtly classes.” – Christopher Alessandrini, metmuseum.org
Volker Hermes, first studied philosophy and then went on to study painting at the Düsseldorf Art Academy (1995-2002). His “Hidden Portraits” project in particular has attracted attention and has been featured in contemporary, historical art and fashion magazines around the world. Many renowned institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York or the National Gallery in London, support his work. Volker Hermes lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Till-Holger Borchert is a German art historian and author of several books, specializing in 14th and 15th-century art. He has been the chief curator of the Groeningemuseum and Arentshuis museums in Bruges, Belgium, between 2003 and 2014. He has curated several major exhibitions, including “Memling: Rinascimento fiammingo” in Rome in 2014–2015. He was also one of the leading curators of the Bruges Triennial for contemporary art and architecture.
Francesca Raimondi is Visiting Professor of Theoretical Philosophy, with a focus on Aesthetics, at the Institute of Philosophy at the Freie Universität Berlin.
