Kunsthalle presents around 100 works on paper and installations by the Amsterdam artist from September 27th to January 10th
The Kunsthalle Darmstadt will present the exhibition “Hilarius Hofstede. Courant Van Gogh” from September 27, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Around 100 works on paper by the Amsterdam-based multimedia artist will be complemented by spatial installations developed specifically for the exhibition venue.
Following exhibitions at venues including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels and the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris, the Kunsthalle is presenting the artist, born in 1966, to a wider audience in Germany for the first time.
Engaging with Vincent van Gogh
A central role in the exhibition is played by Hofstede's engagement with his fellow Dutchman Vincent van Gogh. A copy of Van Gogh's only print, a portrait of his doctor Dr. Gachet, forms a starting point.
Hofstede relates Van Gogh's life and work to contemporary social conditions. The exhibition addresses, among other things, vulnerability, caregiving, and mental health.
Hofstede's own biography also informs his artistic work. According to the Kunsthalle, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 20 and has repeatedly undergone psychiatric treatment.
His works encompass texts, films, photography, drawings, and expanded forms of sculpture. Collage is a common technique. The Kunsthalle cites art from psychiatric contexts, outsider art, non-European cultures, and works by Hieronymus Bosch and Vincent van Gogh as sources for his work.
Accompanying program entitled “State of the Soul”
“Courant Van Gogh” is accompanied by the event series “State of the Soul”. Evening lectures and a discussion with Hilarius Hofstede are planned.
In addition, there will be practical workshops led by Darmstadt-based comic artist Paulina Stulin. A facsimile edition of an exhibition book collaged by Hofstede is also planned.
The exhibition is being realized with the special support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
(DARMSTADT – RED/KH)
Featured image: Copyright Hilarius Hofstede 2026
