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Hilma af Klint: Tidsandans visionär
New research and cultural context on the life and art of Hilma af Klint
The 2018 exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future, introduced the general public to the abstract mystical masterpieces of Swedish painter Hilma af Klint (1862-1944). Based on a seminar held at the Guggenheim Museum at the opening of this acclaimed exhibition, this volume compiles the insights of the seminar's contributors alongside reproductions of works, archival photographs and images from af Klint's journals.
Hilma af Klint: Visionary explores the social and spiritual movements that appeared at the turn of the 20th century, inspiring the pioneers of modernism and abstract art: Kandinsky, Mondrian, Malevich and af Klint. What was the zeitgeist that inspired such an eruption in abstract art? What were the conditions that created Hilma af Klint? Academics and experts Julia Voss, Tracey Bashkoff, Isaac Lubelsky, Linda Dalrymple Henderson and Marco Pasi each take a different approach. Voss analyzes af Klint's biography, pinpointing five important events in her life; Bashkoff presents her connection to Hilla Rebay and her plans for the building of a temple; Lubelsky traces the origins of theosophy in New York; Henderson examines the occult and science; and Pasi considers esotericism's changing role in culture.
The 2018 exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future, introduced the general public to the abstract mystical masterpieces of Swedish painter Hilma af Klint (1862-1944). Based on a seminar held at the Guggenheim Museum at the opening of this acclaimed exhibition, this volume compiles the insights of the seminar's contributors alongside reproductions of works, archival photographs and images from af Klint's journals.
Hilma af Klint: Visionary explores the social and spiritual movements that appeared at the turn of the 20th century, inspiring the pioneers of modernism and abstract art: Kandinsky, Mondrian, Malevich and af Klint. What was the zeitgeist that inspired such an eruption in abstract art? What were the conditions that created Hilma af Klint? Academics and experts Julia Voss, Tracey Bashkoff, Isaac Lubelsky, Linda Dalrymple Henderson and Marco Pasi each take a different approach. Voss analyzes af Klint's biography, pinpointing five important events in her life; Bashkoff presents her connection to Hilla Rebay and her plans for the building of a temple; Lubelsky traces the origins of theosophy in New York; Henderson examines the occult and science; and Pasi considers esotericism's changing role in culture.
124 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 18, 2025
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!
July 16, 2021
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.
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.
April 6, 2023
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
So, basically, the words in this book aren’t worth much, but Hilma’s paintings are worth everything
February 1, 2020
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.
May 6, 2021
One of my favorite contemporary artists!
May 24, 2022
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.
November 6, 2022
Beautiful book but the essays were underwhelming
November 15, 2025
Intressant och upplysande
June 18, 2020
A wonderful overview of this stunning and mysterious artist who was way ahead of her time.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews