The Afterlife of Hilma Af Klint, Painting's Posthumous Star
5 days ago
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- Hilma af Klint's exhibition at Moderna Museet in 2013 drew record crowds, including diverse attendees like dancers and psychics.
- Af Klint began creating abstract paintings in 1906, predating Kandinsky, challenging the male-dominated narrative of modernist abstraction.
- Her work was deeply influenced by spiritualism and collaboration with a group called the Five, including Anna Cassel.
- Af Klint's legacy is managed by the Hilma af Klint Foundation, which prohibits the sale of her significant works to preserve them for 'spiritual seekers.'
- Controversies surround her legacy, including disputes over her spiritual beliefs, collaboration with other artists, and commercialization attempts like NFTs.
- Recent scholarship suggests that some of af Klint's most famous works were collaborative efforts, particularly with Anna Cassel, challenging the myth of her solitary genius.
- The foundation's board has faced internal conflicts over how to manage and display her work, with some advocating for public exhibitions and others for private, spiritual engagement.
- Despite these disputes, af Klint's popularity continues to grow, with major exhibitions worldwide and her work remaining highly sought after, though largely absent from the commercial art market.