ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dirk H. Wilms (born September 1966) is a German artist and photographer whose work consists exclusively of conceptual staged self-portraits. He first came to public recognition with his photographic series A KIND OF ABSENCE that is concerned with his identity as a gay man living with HIV and AIDS.
Never willing to compromise his artistic vision, Wilms uses photography to record and elaborate biographical stories and personal life events in a way that goes beyond the merely aesthetic. Often he depicts himself as a nude figure in his compositions, recasting the male nude as something insecure and vulnerable, rather than as a figure of strength. Implicit in his art practice is the idea that an artist's personal investment, deprivation, and sacrifice is a necessary condition of art. The resulting images highlight an intimate and melancholic struggle, enabling the viewer to connect with his work on a deeply personal level.
“My work is very emotional. I expose myself to life, and I don't hide anything,” he said. “It's important to be vulnerable, to show things you're ashamed of, especially things you're afraid of. Only then you can experience the truth. But all my fears over life and death will be gone. What I hope will remain are these self-portraits, telling my brief story.”
His photographs have been featured in prestigious art, culture, and gay magazines, and can be found in a variety of private collections.
EXHIBITION
INTERVIEWS & TEXTS
THE AIDS MEMORIAL (2019)
STUART ARMSTRONG IN CONVERSATION WITH DIRK H. WILMS
QUEER NB (2018)
MARCEL SPITTEL SPÄTER ERKANNTE ICH ...
MÄNNER MAGAZIN (2016)
DENNIS STEPHAN EINE FORM DER ABWESENHEIT
GAY CH MAGAZINE (2015)
LUIS PESTANA PORTFOLIO DIRK H. WILMS
SALVE TV (2015)
EINE ART VON ABWESENHEIT / VIDEO
HIV PLUS MAGAZINE (2015)
JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL SEE YOU SEE ME
QUEER.DE (2015)
REDAKTION QUEER EINE ART DER ABWESENHEIT
CARSTEN BAUHAUS WIE STILLE SCHREIE
KALTBLUT MAGAZINE (2014)
AMANDA M JANSSON ART - DIRK H. WILMS
DIRK H. WILMS A KIND OF ABSENCE
MEIN SCHWULES AUGE (2014)
DIRK H. WILMS Ich trage AIDS in meinem Gesicht
MASCULAR MAGAZINE (2013)
VINCENT KEITH PORTFOLIO A KIND OF ABSENCE
SELECTED PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
MASCULAR MAGAZINE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018
ZINE MAGAZINE, JAPAN, 2017
MÄNNER MAGAZINE, GERMANY, 2016
MEIN SCHWULES AUGE 13, GERMANY, 2016
NOISY RAIN WINTER EDITION, JAPAN, 2016
HOMOSURREALISM, UNITED KINGDOM, 2016
SALVE TELEVISION, GERMANY, 2015
OTZ JOURNAL, GERMANY, 2015
THÜRINGISCHE LANDESZEITUNG, GERMANY, 2015
QUEER, GERMANY, 2015
GAY CH MAGAZINE, SWITZERLAND, 2015
ARTCURE MAGAZINE, GREECE, 2015
BLITZ MAGAZINE, GERMANY, 2015
CHUECA MAGAZINE, SPAIN, 2015
HIV PLUS MAGAZINE, USA, 2015
THE PINK SNOUT, ITALY, 2015
OBSCURE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2015
MEIN SCHWULES AUGE 11, GERMANY, 2014
MEN ADDICTED, FRANCE, 2014
GENTE RARA, VENEZUELA, 2014
LAZAGNE ART MAGAZINE, ITALY, 2014
SRDREGE MEN, TURKEY, 2014
ET ALORS?, NETHERLANDS, 2014
TRIBE MAGAZINE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2014
M+ MAGAZINE, GERMANY, 2014
KALTBLUT MAGAZINE, GERMANY, 2014
NOISY RAIN MAGAZINE, JAPAN, 2014
THE UNTOLD, UNITED KINGDOM, 2014
SLAVE MAGAZINE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2014
ULISEX! MAGAZINE, MEXICO, 2013
EDGE MAGAZINE, USA, 2013
MASCULAR MAGAZINE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2013
GET INSPIRED MAGAZINE, GERMANY, 2013