herman de vries: natural-relations
About this activity.
herman de vries: natural-relations
drugs & hop
19 September to 17 October 2026
Opening: 19 September, 1–5 pm
Opening remarks at 4 pm
ARTisBOOK and Block C
To mark the 95th birthday of herman de vries, ARTisBOOK and Block C are presenting the manifestation natural relations: drugs & hop from 19 September to 17 October 2026.
At ARTisBOOK, the exhibition is titled drugs. de vries deliberately uses this word to challenge our preconceived ideas. At its centre are mind-moving plants: plants that influence our perception and consciousness. They do not take us to another world, but invite us to see differently the world that is already there.
The encounter at ARTisBOOK begins with mind-altering plants. From there, a multifaceted story unfolds around herman de vries’ relationship to these plants and the knowledge and experiences associated with them. Artist publications, collected objects, books from his drug library and artworks bring together different ways of seeing and thinking, in which art, science, botanical knowledge, poetry and personal experience intersect. Personal stories by de vries, presented both visually and through audio, offer a direct insight into the significance that plants have had in his life and thinking. “I am the plants I have taken into myself; they have shaped me into who I am.”
At Kunstruimte Block C, natural relations takes on a different form. de vries has designed a floor installation made of hop cones, using hops grown and cared for by 130 residents of Groningen and the surrounding area. The hops refer to the original function of the building as a former ice warehouse, once used for the storage and cooling of beer.
drugs & hop are part of de vries’ extensive research project natural relations, in which he explores the interconnectedness of humans, nature and culture. The exhibition has been developed in close collaboration with de vries, made possible in part through loans and support from herman and susanne de vries, BorzoGallery, Evi and Wolfgang Aull, Cees de Boer, Co Seegers and Henk Woudsma.
Public Programme
The manifestation is accompanied by an extensive public programme of walks, workshops, conversations and tastings. Ilse Donker, Lola Diaz Cantoni, VELD collectief, aqui Thami, Geertje Geertsema and Efthymia Veliskaki invite visitors to experience the relationship between humans and plants from different perspectives, engaging all the senses.
The full programme is available on the website of ARTisBOOK.
Supported by:
Beringer Hazewinkel, Mondriaan Fonds, BPD Cultuurfonds en Van Bijleveltstichting
Stichting ARTisBOOK.
Stichting ARTisBOOK is een onderzoeks- en presentatieruimte voor hedendaagse kunstenaarsboeken en hun makers. In samenwerking met kunstenaars ontwikkelen we programma’s waarin gastvrijheid, collectiviteit, experiment en kennisuitwisseling centraal staan. We dagen kunstenaars uit te ‘spelen met ideeën over het kunstenaarsboek’ en nieuwe relaties te onderzoeken tussen hun werk en het publiek.
Door samen te werken met andere ruimtes en organisaties ontstaan kruisbestuivingen en nieuwe mogelijkheden om ons programma met een breed publiek te ontwikkelen en te onderzoeken. Als kenniscentrum adviseren we studenten en kunstenaars, stellen we ons archief publiek toegankelijk en organiseren we gesprekken en gastlessen met exposerende kunstenaars.
Location.
Block C
Westerhavenstraat 14
www.artisbook.nl/
ARTisBOOK
westerhavenstraat 14
www.artisbook.nl/