Dear Ann,
As soon as Cristina told us about it, I watched Beyond the Visible, the documentary about Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944). I make it a rule not to sleep on anything Cristina recommends!
I have many feelings.
The petty: irritation with myself for missing the Hilma af Klint exhibit at the Guggenheim in 2018-2019. I heard so much about it at the time, and knew I’d love it, but never got there. (It is across town, Kay. Less than one mile. Gosh!)
The angry: Rudolf Steiner has a lot to answer for. As does Wassily Kandinsky. OK, let’s just say it: men. In her lifetime, the artist had connections to the art world that could have let her work be seen. Men—men who clearly knew or should have known the worth of what she was doing—dismissed it, and there was no appeal of that slammed door. I’m kind of sick of this story.
But my biggest feeling is wonderment at af Klint’s work, mind, and character.
This film gives a great sense of all of this, and everything is beautifully and sensitively photographed.
Bonus for textile lovers: art historian and af Klint biographer Julia Voss wears two remarkable garments for her interviews. If anybody on here knows her, please find out more! I think there’s a good chance she knits or sews.
And before everyone says this in the comments: yes, it’s not easy to knit to this film. Some of the speakers speak English, but between the Swedish and the German there are a lot of subtitles to read, and then there’s all the paintings, and notebooks, and photographs, to hold one’s gaze. I managed to get in quite a few rounds on my Main Squeeze Pullover, though. I can knit and k1, p1 without looking, and the Lapis shade of Atlas made me feel at one with the gorgeous blues in af Klint’s big paintings.
You can watch the full documentary for free through the YouTube link up top.
Love,
Kay
P.S. If, like me, you become a Hilma af Klint super fan after watching this documentary, you’ll be delighted to learn of the exhibition book Hilma af Klint: Painting for the Future, the new graphic novel version of her biography (graphic biography?)—and also that Julia Voss’s Instagram handle is @spiraltemple.
I am most grateful to KnitStars for expanding the world for me knitwise. I was introduced to so many talented people via the lessons made available. For people like me, the ability to go back and replay things I didn’t get the first time, is invaluable. I loved the MDK presentation, and I have been introduced via the course material to Amy Herzog, Arne & Carlos, Asa Soderman, Ambah O’Brien, Blue Sky Fibres, Vera Valimaki, GG, Vincent, Casapinka, Sharon from Security, Felicity Ford, Dana Williams-Johnson, da Brooklyn Boy Louis Boria, Nancy Marchant, Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mabley and the list goes on! So many incredibly talented people and fibre producers. Thank you to all of you talented people,
Wow, Thanks so much for the recommendation. Amazing work
Wow! Beautiful and moving.
Thank you for the heads up on the history of an unsung art pioneer. When I looked at her large canvases, I can see them interpreted as blankets knit in Swedish wool. Painted or knitted they are inspiring.
O BOY! I can’t wait to watch this tonight!
Thanks! On the list for the weekend!
Thank you for this recommendation. I am in awe!
I’m no modernist — but this exhibit was beautiful.
I am waiting for someone to make pattens of some of the Weiner Werkstedde (sp) garments … in the early plague days, I went to a great zoom on the textiles, etc., from an exhibit in Vienna? Such beautiful works.
Go to the Met and check out the Crafted by Fire (?) exhibit — American art pottery. I knew the collector and the collection … and don’t miss the Kimono exhibit … it was wonderful (and shows Western garments influenced by kimono as well)
Yeah, that men thing gets old, doesn’t it? Someone sent me a review of an Anni Albers exhibit at the museum at Syracuse University, and one of the things the reviewer noted was how much more attention her husband Josef got in their lifetimes, even though her art is more complex and interesting, and has held up over time.
It looks like a great exhibit, textiles and drawings, if anyone is in the Syracuse area before December.
And the movie is on the agenda for this evening, after I plant my garlic….
Just amazing. Wasn’t intending to watch it all today but was totally engrossed. Thank you for recommending this!
Kay, thank you- extraordinary & breathtaking
Oh my. I am overwhelmed by the artist, her talent and the film making. I can only hope that I may one day see an exhibit of her work. Thank you for sharing.
Kay, maybe you can get to London in the new year?
Tate Museum of Modern Art will exhibit some works of Hilma af Klint in early 2023.
Saw the exhibit at the Guggenheim…simply awesome!
Thanks for this. Shockingly, I did manage to see the exhibit at the Guggenheim — usually intend to but never make it to things.
This was wonderful, so well done!
Thank you, thank you!! I was blown away by her Guggenheim show, so glad to learn about this. I learn so much daily from this blog. Gracias.
I was entranced by the film – so beautifully done. And so unfair, as usual, to a woman artist. But, I also had to check out Julia Voss’ IG account – yes, she’s wearing more great clothes.
Thank you so much, MDK.