Breathing Together: The Collaborative Spirit and Subversive Politics of Hilma af Klint’s Visionary Art
Publication information:
Abstract
Over the past decade, the enigmatic, spiritually charged abstract compositions of Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) have captivated audiences worldwide. Recent discoveries reveal that her Paintings for the Temple emerged through collaboration with a constellation of visionary women artists, challenging the patriarchal myth of the solitary genius. This paper reframes af Klint’s oeuvre as a co-creative process rooted in relationality and spiritual embodiment, with politically subversive implications. By positioning art as a catalyst for collective discovery and social-spiritual transformation, af Klint’s legacy counters individualism, inviting us to imagine a future grounded in interconnectedness, care, and emergent ways of knowing.
Presenter Biography
Alexis Braun, an artist and interdisciplinary researcher, holds a BFA in Studio Arts and an MA in Philosophy and Religions. She is a PhD student in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, researching integral artistry as catalyst for political and cultural transformation.