Hilma af Klint in Wellington: The Secret Paintings

Last updated on 19 January 2024

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If you’re into art exhibitions, you gotta check out Hilma af Klint in Wellington

If you’re anything like me then you may be thinking ‘who is Hilma af Klint!?’ Until a few months ago (when I saw an ad on TV – props to advertising, it’s working!) I had no idea who she was and no idea what sorts of painting she did. But as soon as I saw that an exhibition was going to be happening, I knew I had to go and see Hilma af Klint in Wellington.

Who was Hilma af Klint?

Hilma af Klint was a Swedish artist, born in 1862. Her paintings are considered some of the first abstract art in the West, and as you can see by the images in this post, she believed her art was beyond her time.

What was Hilma af Klint’s art style?

Before artists like Wassily Kandinsky, there was Hilma. Her artwork drew on the spiritual, a certain mystical feeling about them. Her bold colours and use of symbolism, geometry, science and religion would have been seen as out-of-touch with the other artists in those times.

The mid to late 1800s had moved from the previous Neoclassicism (think naked or partly-sheet-covered women lounging on day beds, a bowl of fruit nearby and a dog in the bottom corner) to a more impressionist style, but still, af Klint’s art would have stood out.

It’s no surprise then that she wanted her art to remain hidden, to be a secret, until 20 years after her death.

The Hilma af Klint in Wellington exhibition

In 1960, the boxes of her artwork were unboxed, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that her work was introduced into the world. Despite the artwork being rejected from museums, her work not being appreciated during her time … the art is somehow fitting for the 2020s. The exhibition in Wellington of af Klint’s work is one of many around the world now, and in the past few years her name has become popular with artists and art-lovers alike.

Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings brings this highly celebrated body of work to Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time. Curated by Sue Cramer, the exhibition is built around af Klint’s Paintings for the Temple cycle —‘the great commission’ she received from her ‘High Masters’. The works were made in secret, between 1906 and 1915. Af Klint first undertook a ten-month purification process to hone her focus and self-discipline. – City Gallery Wellington

My thoughts on the exhibition

I really enjoyed walking through the gallery checking out all the paintings and sketches. Like all artists, there are pieces are really don’t like, but pieces that I really love. My favourites were The Ten Largest, which show the four states of human life in 3m-high abstract paintings. The colours were spectacular, and the way she portrayed each stage was beautifully done. I even bought postcard prints of these 10 so I can display them somewhere.

If you’re going to be spending time in Wellington before the end of March, then I highly recommend checking out the exhibition!

 

FAQs about the exhibition

Where can you see the exhibition of Hilma af Klint in Wellington?

The Hilma af Klint exhibition in Wellington is currently been shown at the City Gallery. You can buy tickets online, and wander through all the halls of the stunning artworks, shown above.

How long is the Hilma ad Klint exhibition on?

The exhibition of Hilma af Klint’s artwork will be in Wellington until March 27th 2022.

Where is the City Gallery in Wellington?

You can find the City Gallery in Te Ngakau Civic Square in the heart of the city. It’s easy to get to, and there are plenty of on-street parking and nearby parking buildings. Coming off the train? It’s a 16-minute walk from the Wellington Train Station.

Have you seen the Hilma af Klint exhibition, The Secret Paintings? What did you think?