Hilma af Klint, visionaria

by Kurt Almqvist (Editor), Margaret Ax:son (Editor), Louise Belfrage (Editor)

Nuevos movimientos espirituales aparecieron a inicios del XX, tales como la teosofía, difundida por Helena Blavatsky o Annie Besant, entre otras figuras, y la antroposofía de Rudolf Steiner, con su búsqueda de un lenguaje capaz de expresar una realidad metafísica, inspiraron no sólo a conocidos pioneros del arte abstracto, como Kandinsky, Mondrian o Malévich, sino también a ciertas mujeres solitarias, imbuidas de un rico mundo interior, como Georgiana Houghton o Hilma af Klint.

La presente antología –basada en un seminario celebrado en el Museo Guggenheim de Nueva York en octubre del 2018– examina en detalle este sugestivo fenómeno cultural a través de la fascinante figura de Hilma af Klint, cuya obra pictórica ha acaparado un asombroso interés internacional más de cien años después de su creación

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, History, Biography, Spirituality, Feminism

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Robin Wik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Väldigt lärorik och intressant. Jag gillar att olika narrativ omkring Hilma af Klint som saknas i allmänheten, får en plats och utforskas av flera skribenter. Om man har ett intresse för teosofi så tror jag inte denna boken tillför mycket, men annars är den jättebra!! Tar upp breda tankar om spiritism, esoterism, antroposofi, rosenkreutzare, astralvärlden, och såklart teosofi. Dessutom sätts konstnärens tankar in i ett historiskt perspektiv, som annars missas i media. Alla essäer är 10/10, med kanske ett litet undantag av den sista. Högst läsvärd!

[Upasana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of 5 essays contextualising the work of artist
Hilma Af Klint. It is a beautiful book with high quality reproductions
of her work. Tantalising introduction to theosophy and its
impact on modernism and a good speculation on the emergence
of theosophy as a preoccupation in contemporary art - and a good discussion of how these differ. It feels to me that the process of incorporating this
artist into the story of art history has only just begun. The biography of Af Klint feels incomplete
and begs further research.
I received this as a gift as I have had to cancel my journey to Sydney and the Art Gallery of
New South Wales to see 'The Secret Paintings' due to covid 19 lockdown. Nothing could replace the experience of seeing her work in person, but I will cherish this catalogue.

[Sally Scum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more about Theosophy than it is about Hilma Af Klint, and I wouldn’t recommend it for anything more than a very basic understanding of either of the subjects. Some of the essays in here were clearly written high-school-essay-style, where the writers were stretching out their sentences just to meet a word count, sometimes taking two pages to explain something simple, like contemporary art.

So, basically, the words in this book aren’t worth much, but Hilma’s paintings are worth everything

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing my love affair with all things Af Klint, I got this as a present for the holidays and devoured the whole thing. One of the surprising turns was the summary of the Theosophy movement and how Af Klint's work fits into it. I have a biography of Madame Blavatsky sitting on my shelf and I think I am now inspired to read it. I didn't realize how much my own magical work had in common with Theosophy.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite contemporary artists!

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating to learn more about her work and the influences on it. An attractive volume as well, pleasurable to hold (hardbound with fabric cover) and striking photographs.

[Kelly Cree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book but the essays were underwhelming

[Fröken W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intressant och upplysande

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful overview of this stunning and mysterious artist who was way ahead of her time.

[RosaDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book aims to expand information and knowledge about the pioneer of abstraction, who was discovered for posterity posthumously with the intention that the generations of the late 20th century or today would better understand her work. To this end, the essays by renowned experts during a seminar on the occasion of an exhibition about her work in 2018, like some of the most important graphic documents, bring us closer to a more in-depth look at her life, her work and her context so that we understand the magnitude of her artistic contribution to thought and art. Very interesting!

Liburu honek abstrakzioaren aitzindariari buruzko informazioa eta ezagutza zabaltzea du helburu, ondorengoentzat hil ostean aurkitu baitzen XX. mende amaierako edo gaur egungo belaunaldiek bere lana hobeto ulertzeko asmoz. Horretarako, 2018an bere lanari buruzko erakusketa baten harira egindako mintegian aditu entzutetsuek egindako saiakerek, dokumentu grafiko garrantzitsuenetako batzuk bezala, bere bizitzari, bere obrari eta bere testuingurua, pentsamendu eta arteari egindako ekarpen artistikoaren magnitudea ulertzeko. Oso interesgarria!

Este libro pretende ampliar la información y el conocimiento sobre la pionera de la abstracción, que fue descubierta para la posteridad póstumamente con la intención de que las generaciones de finales del siglo XX o actuales comprendieran mejor su obra. Para ello, los ensayos de reconocidos expertos durante un seminario con motivo de una exposición sobre su obra en 2018, como algunos de los más importantes documentos gráficos nos acercan a una mirada con más profundidad a su vida, su obra y su contexto para que comprendamos la magnitud de su contribución artística al pensamiento y al arte. Muy interesante!

Ce livre vise à élargir les informations et les connaissances sur la pionnière de l'abstraction, découverte pour la posthume à titre posthume avec l'intention que les générations de la fin du XXe siècle ou d'aujourd'hui comprennent mieux son travail. À cette fin, les essais d'experts renommés lors d'un séminaire à l'occasion d'une exposition sur son œuvre en 2018, ainsi que certains des documents graphiques les plus importants, nous rapprochent d'un regard plus approfondi sur sa vie, son œuvre et son contexte afin que nous comprenions l'ampleur de sa contribution artistique à la pensée et à l'art. Très interessant!

[Pamela Díaz Escalante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siempre me quedo con ganas de más de información. Es un placer ir encontrando información de Hilma.