Hilma af Klint has long been one of my favorite artists. I am captivated as much by her life, as her artwork and how we are just now really beginning to understand the vast scope of her work, 79 years after her death. Naturally, I am also fascinated by the fact that she too worked in the intersection between art and spirituality, her interest in Botany, her queerness and the fact that she had a close knit of women friends (the five).
I will always regret missing her big show at the Guggenheim in 2018-19, not for lack of wanting to get there, but being in the throws of parenting a teen. Still, in early 2022, during the peak of “omicron” I was able to have my moment with the Tree of Knowledge series, a rare set of her watercolor works on paper (1913–1915) exhibited at the David Zwirner gallery on the UES. I spent over an hour alone in the room with this series and let my mind wonder. It felt deeply spiritual. But I digress.
Several years back my old friend Pat who lives in Delray Beach FL, was showing me photos of her art from the Lake Worth Street painting fest, beautiful large reproductions of Georgia O’Keefe flowers. I was so enthusiastic and curious she then said “you should do it with me next time!” My initial reaction was I’ll come but I can’t draw! The idea sat percolating for a few years, then a few more as the pandemic changed all of our lives. Since then, Pat and another mutual friend Carolyn and I have been meeting every few months for an art inspiration weekend. So far, we have done eco-printing and some artist book making, we decided to add the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival to our art adventure weekends (art-venture).
I have participated in many different types festivals over the years and I must say I am very impressed at the organization of this one! It’s huge (600 artists and 100,000 people according the festival director) and as an artist I felt supported and cared for. At check in we were given a wrist band to identify us and give us access to liquid and snacks! and a set of 48 chalk pastels, a roller and a bucket of black or white tempera paint to paint our backgrounds.
Due to some weather delays (frigid cold, snow and ice) I had just flown in to West Palm Beach in the wee hours of the morning got a few hours of sleep and hit the (hot) pavement! I was not prepared for 90 degree sun pounding down on me and the burning hot side walk I sat, kneeled, lay and crouched on all day! As someone who has taught holistic herbalism and self care for 25 years it was time to practice what I preach and decided to prioritize my wellbeing which was made easy thanks to the festival organizers who had ice cold water and gatorade available all day. I took frequent walks / shade breaks, and stopped to get a nourishing lunch from Nature Way Cafe
We had decided to create a triptych of works by Hilma af Kint. Pat and Carolyn each chose to reproduce one of the 10 largest works, all abstract, bold and colorful. These large (originals 10 feet by 8) works represent the stages of life, beginning in childhood, and moving to adulthood, and then old age. The imagery is derived from organic forms, botanicals, creatures, and abstract objects. Carolyn chose #7 Adulthood (1907) and Pat #4, Youth. I chose to recreate her Altarpiece, Nos. 1, 1915 as it was the piece that introduced me to her work many years ago. It’s is from the last group of her Paintings for the Temple cycle which seem to relate to Theosophy’s version of evolutionary theory, in which evolution occurs in two directions, elevating from the physical to the spiritual and descending from the divine to the material world.
Hilma’s work remained pretty much unseen until the mid 80’s but more recently have become to receive some acclaim. It brought me joy every time someone walked by and explained Hilma af Klint! and got it (as opposed to Pink Floyd!). It felt like they were part of the club. Her abstract work came before that of Vasily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Piet Mondrian.
A common theme in my life work is women working with other women, being in community, loving other women and lifting/supporting other women. I have noticed that several of the artists I am most drawn to work in this same model, Hilma had her 5 friends and Remedios Varo worked closely with Leonora Carrington and Kati Horna ‘they created a surrogate family between themselves’ and impacted strongly on each woman’s work. This is a theme that will be explored further here in time.
To learn more about her and her life I recommend listening to the following episode on Hilma af Klint on the Great Women Artists by Katy Hessel
Recommended Books
The Five Lives of Hilma af Kline by by Phillipp Deines, Hilma af Klint, Julia Voss
Hilma AF Klint: Paintings for the Future by Hilma af Klint, Hilma af Klint
Tree Of Knowledge Introduction by Julia Voss. David Zwirner books
Beautiful essay, Tony! Reproducing a painting has a special way of bringing one closer to an artist’s process and thoughts (we hope!). What a joy it was to focus on Hillma and really tune into her work…and to HONOR HER. Tony, thanks for continuing to inspire us to be creative!