ABOUT

Dirk H. Wilms (born 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 his own way. 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.

“The stories and life events that I choose to use as starting points are simply that,” he explained. “Combining my own personal facts of life and artistic concepts into something new is how I make my work. I want to entice the viewer to wake up into something different while discovering it.”

His striking and highly unusual photographs have been featured in prestigious art, culture, and gay magazines, and can be found in a variety of private collections.