Hilma af Klint
Active at the beginning of the 20th century, Hilma af Klint is considered a pioneer of abstract modernist painting. Her work is sometimes understood in the context of early Modernism, where artists were searching for new ways of representing aesthetics, politics, science and spirituality.
Yet for Hilma af Klint, the paintings resulted through direct influences from the spirit world. Her paintings were very much connected to her beliefs in Theosophy and Rosencreutz. Hilma af Klint created over 1200 paintings that are vivid and experimental, incorporating symbolism and text. However, the artist never exhibited these paintings during her lifetime, understanding they offered a radical new trajectory for art that might only be appreciated in the future.
Hilma af Klint’s Blue Sketchbooks had a discursive quality as part of the artist’s everyday experiences. They contain photographs of her paintings alongside painted reproductions in colour, as photography only existed at that time in black and white. The painter would show the images in her books to people she met, and engage them in conversation about what the meaning of the image could be.
Hilma af Klint's works are presented at Göteborgs Konsthall.
Photo
Blåbok #4, installation view WheredoIendandyoubegin - On Secularity, Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art 2017, Göteborgs Konsthall. Photo Hendrik Zeitler.