THE STORYTELLER

At 81 years of age, Peter Herrmann is a living book whose pages are dense with print. You can read about his life, his numerous exhibitions and the honors he has received along the way in this catalogue. But before you do, with Peter’s blessing I will begin by telling you a less well-known story about him.

It was through Nikolai Makarov that I was introduced to Peter Herrmann – I first got to know the person and then the artist. The ateliers of the two men are still located next door to each other in an old factory-loft in Berlin’s Wedding district. Some years ago, when Peter was still giving painting lessons, on the morning after the lesson the table was still covered with the leftovers from the night before.  It was quite a picturesque image, this arrangement of liverwurst, bread and various kinds of cheese. The odour of food blended with the smell of the fresh paint from the pictures that the students had hung on the walls the night before.

The other artist-neighbours – Hans Hendrik Grimmling, alias “the Professor”, Nikolai Makarov and Arnd Kaestner, accompanied by his dog Karlchen, and whose cousin had also been immortalised in one of Peter Herrmann’s paintings – were invited over to enjoy an impromptu breakfast of leftovers and Peter’s wife Anke brewed delicious filter coffee for everyone.

Even now, I can still remember the conversations – especially the atmosphere in which they were held.

They spoke of the past with a certain nostalgia. They talked of love, of life as an artist, of escape from the GDR and the lives of their parents who remained there. The artists were friendly towards the younger generation at the table – which included me – listening to us with interested, open ears and minds. There was so much laughter and at times a certain melancholy gripped us and we shook our heads in sorrow. That moment transformed us into a group of dedicated supporters. Was it perhaps Anke’s aromatic filter coffee that loosened tongues and set free emotions? Without a doubt, the deeply rooted humanity that influenced the atmosphere in the atelier during our visits there played a significant role. Time seemed to stand absolutely still for a couple of hours. 

Peter Herrmann is a wonderful storyteller. He speaks with a voice that exudes tranquillity and warmth. This voice is both audible in conversation with his friends, but also silently permeates his paintings. The stories told by his pictures frequently focus on everyday experiences expressed with a humorous twist and are imbued with a sincerity that is both direct and genuine. He is a thoroughly down to earth individual; both he and his art are absolutely authentic. The frequently used cliché of the artist as a social outcast certainly does not apply in the least to Peter Herrmann.

Peter Herrmann inspires us to view familiar, everyday objects or situations from a different perspective – in doing so, we pay them more attention than usual, no longer take them for granted and see them in a fresh new light. In fact, his coffee machine and ashtray paintings remind me of Jasper Johns’ “Two Beer Cans” from 1960. Here too, an everyday object is suddenly viewed from an entirely different perspective.

There is a perpetual discussion about what is or isn’t art; what makes an artist important. In my opinion, art can be something intimate and personal, since we tend to make associations that stem from an autobiographical origin. That’s why I am looking forward to knowing which paintings will cause you to linger and view them for a longer period of time, which will inspire you to initiate a discussion and what topics you will ultimately discuss.

Aleksandra v. Luxburg