Géza HERMANN

Géza Hermann creates artworks where he explores both the real and spiritual spaces of the canvas. Indeed, his creative process, strongly inspired by the alchemical tradition, Tai Chi Chuan and oriental art, connects the alchemist’s work with the artist’s practice. Distilled beauty derives from work on oneself.

Hermann, while detailing his practice, refers to alchemy as a psychological science: ” My painting are examines through various materials, processes and observations, reactions in my personal laboratory. The artist’s role is analogous to this concept – for he is acting as a transformer and transmitter of the potential of the primitive matter, which, when impressed with forms, comes into existence in the work of art.”

Even though nature is at the heart of the artist’s works, it cannot be considered as “still lives”. Indeed, even if nature acts as a subject (the Floral meditations serie, 2004, amongst others) or as a material (Landscaping), questioning the universe and our own nature is part of Geza’s practice. Having mastered lots of techniques, Hermann’s corpus includes drawings, paintings, sculptures and land art. Keen on using luminescent pigments, he creates artworks that reveal themselves differently in daylight while unveiling their universe with black lights. His art is an experience lived by the spectator and inspired by the artist’s experience. Hermann’s artworks lie between figuration and abstraction. The forms are evasive, curbed, open, uncluttered and could even be considered calligraphic.

Géza Hermann was born in Hungary in 1949. At the age of 7 years old, he witnessed Budapest’s uprising against the severe politics of the URSS. In 1956, his family and him fled Hungary for Canada where he developed his passion for art. When he turned 16, he began to study with the Russian painter Valentine Firsoff Shebaeff. The Universal Exhibition of 1967 encouraged Herman to travel to Europe where he spent a few years in France, experiencing the bohemian life at Montmartre. During those years, he travelled to Germany, Britain, Holland and even Australia. Back in Canada in 1969, strongly influenced by Van Gogh, Kandinsky and Klee, Hermann develops his art.

Since 1973, he studies Tai Chi Chuan with Tam Cheuk Ying. In 1986, the artist completed his Bachelor in Fine Arts at Concordia University and worked and studied with Guido Molinari, Yves Gaucher, John Ivor Smith and Paul Neagu. The next year, he completed his teaching degree at McGill University and then, started his career as an art teacher at the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal while working on his art. In 2000, he decided to devote himself entirely to his artistic practice. In 1987, he founded The Alternative Landscaping Company where he links landscaping and land art. He specializes in the creation of sculpted and zen gardens which he received prizes for. He also worked, in 1989, with Ken Nakajima, creator of the Japanese garden at Montréal Botanical Garden. The artist presented several exhibitions both in Canada and Hungary. He also participated in In Situ, an on tour exhibition travelling since 2009 and which was well received in Gatineau, Montréal, Szentendre (Hungary), St-John and Hamilton (2014).

CLICK HERE to view the video for the exhibition “VÉGÉTALITÉS”
CLIQUEZ ICI / CLICK HERE (106 downloads ) to download the visual pamphlet of the exhibition “VÉGÉTALITÉS”
CLICK HERE to watch our video tour of the exhibition “PAYSAGES CROISÉS / HORIZONS INÉDITS ” on Youtube.
CLIQUEZ ICI / CLICK HERE (212 downloads ) to download the visual pamphlet of the group exhibition « PAYSAGES CROISÉS / HORIZONS INÉDITS »