"Forward / Because" (Video Installation, 2013)
ABOUT
Dirk H. Wilms (b. 1966) is a German photographer and visual artist whose work consists primarily of conceptual staged self-portraits. Sexuality, death and identity are recurring themes throughout his work.
Never willing to compromise his artistic vision, Wilms uses photography to record and elaborate auto-biographical stories and personal life events, focusing on his own body as an expressive vehicle. Despite his introverted nature, he often depicts himself as a nude figure in his compositions, seeking to recast the male nude as something insecure and vulnerable, rather than as a figure of strength. The resulting images highlight an intimate and melancholic struggle that enables the viewer to connect with his work on a personal level.
“To me photography means to breathe life and to express myself. It helps me to make my fears, my depressions and my nightmares visible to those who care to see,” he said. “The positive reactions have shown me that other people can also find themselves in my work. It isn't my intention to represent only myself.”
His work has been featured in art, culture, and gay magazines internationally and can be found in a variety of collections.
EXHIBITION
INTERVIEWS & TEXTS
THE AIDS MEMORIAL
STUART ARMSTRONG IN CONVERSATION WITH DIRK H. WILMS
QUEER NB
MARCEL SPITTEL SPÄTER ERKANNTE ICH ...
MÄNNER MAGAZIN
DENNIS STEPHAN EINE FORM DER ABWESENHEIT
GAY CH MAGAZINE
LUIS PESTANA INTERVIEW WITH DIRK H. WILMS
SALVE TV
EINE ART VON ABWESENHEIT / VIDEO
HIV PLUS MAGAZINE
JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL SEE YOU SEE ME
QUEER.DE
REDAKTION QUEER EINE ART DER ABWESENHEIT
CARSTEN BAUHAUS WIE STILLE SCHREIE
KALTBLUT MAGAZINE
AMANDA M JANSSON THE ART OF DIRK H. WILMS
DIRK H. WILMS A KIND OF ABSENCE
MEIN SCHWULES AUGE
DIRK H. WILMS ICH TRAGE AIDS IN MEINEM GESICHT
SELECTED PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
JAAMZIN, SINGAPORE, 2019
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
MUSIKMARKT, GERMANY, 1999
BERLINER MORGENPOST, GERMANY, 1995