Herman Hermsen: Traveling Path. An interview by Quittenbaum Gallery

Claudia Quittenbaum and Nadine Becker visited Herman Hermsen in January 2023 and made the video portrait for the exhibition 'Herman Hermsen - Traveling Path‘ helded in March- May 2023 at Quittenbaum Gallery in Munich.

Since the 1980s, Herman Hermsen has been known for radically innovative jewelry designs that break with the traditional norms of jewelry as a status symbol. Using lacquered steel wire, aluminum or plastics, the designer creates one-of-a-kind pieces as well as serial editions.

'In general, my way of working regarding all designs is based on a reinterpretation of the product in question.' An early example of this is the famous series of minimalist chokers made of painted aluminum (1982). The starting point is a hoop that is first dissected into three or even four equal parts and then reassembled at different angles, creating a new geometric form that reaches into space, close to minimalism in art.

Herman Hermsen’s designs often reflect artistic and theoretical discourses of their time of origin, such as the questions concerning the role of the unique piece and the concept of democratic jewelry. Important are also the titles of his works, which not only illustrate his delight in linguistic wit, but often open up a further intellectual ironic interpretation space for the viewer.

Text by Quittenbaum Gallery

Concept: Claudia Quittenbaum & Nadine Becker
Editing: Nadine Becker
Music: Simeon Ten Holt 'Canto Ostinato'

Video, 2024, 12:59 min
 

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Herman Hermsen