Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future

Hilma af Klint was a visionary artist who left behind over a thousand paintings and works on paper, which she kept private until her death in 1944. Her abstract painting practice predates that of Vasily Kandinsky and other modernist artists. This volume accompanies the first major survey exhibition of her work in the US and explores her life, work, and relevance to art in the 21st century. It also delves into her unrealized plans for a spiral-shaped temple to display her art.

Format: Hardback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2018
Publisher: Guggenheim Museum Publications,U.S.

A groundbreaking exploration into the life and work of visionary artist Hilma af Klint

When Hilma af Klint passed away in 1944 at the remarkable age of 81, she left behind an extraordinary legacy, comprising over a thousand paintings and works on paper. However, she chose to keep these remarkable creations largely private throughout her lifetime, believing that the world was not yet ready to embrace her artistic vision. It was only in recent decades that the public has had the privilege of delving into af Klint's groundbreaking painting practice, which predates the works of artists such as Vasily Kandinsky and is widely regarded as a trailblazer in modernist abstraction.

To accompany the first major survey exhibition of Hilma af Klint's work in the United States, this comprehensive volume presents her groundbreaking painting series while expanding upon recent scholarship to provide a comprehensive portrait of the artist's life and work. Essays delve into the social, intellectual, and artistic milieu that shaped af Klint's 1906 break with figuration and her subsequent artistic development, placing her within the context of Swedish modernism, folk art traditions, contemporary scientific discoveries, and spiritualist and occult movements. A lively roundtable discussion among contemporary artists, scholars, and curators explores af Klint's sources and relevance to art in the 21st century.

Furthermore, the volume delves into her unrealized plans for a spiral-shaped temple, a vision that finds a fitting realization in the Guggenheim Museums rotunda, where the forthcoming exhibition will be held. This fortuitous alignment showcases af Klint's enduring influence and the ongoing appreciation for her visionary art.

Through its extensive content and insightful perspectives, Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future offers a profound journey into the world of this remarkable artist, shedding light on her profound artistic contributions and the enduring impact she has had on the art world.

Weight: 1350g
Dimension: 293 x 223 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780892075430