Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint

Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint
Documentary directed by Halina Dryschka
Germany, 93 min English, German and Swedish with subtitles.
On demand May 22 - June 12 via Cinematheque at Home.

Presented in partnership with Cinematheque at Home

Hilma af Klint was an abstract artist before the term existed, a visionary, trailblazing figure who, inspired by spiritualism, modern science, and the riches of the natural world around her, began in 1906 to reel out a series of huge, colorful, sensual, strange works without precedent in painting. The subject of a recent smash retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum, af Klint was for years an all-but-forgotten figure in art historical discourse, before her long-delayed rediscovery.

Director Halina Dryschka’s dazzling, course correcting documentary describes not only the life and craft of pioneer af Klint, but also the process of her mischaracterization and erasure by both a patriarchal narrative of artistic progress and capitalistic determination of artistic value.

Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1e4OXGkim0

“CRITIC’S PICK. Bristles with the excitement of discovery and also with the impatience that recognition has taken so long. It refreshes the eyes and the mind.” A.O. Scott, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“MOVIE OF THE WEEK. Dryschka’s fascinating documentary is an illuminating introduction to a major artist all but erased from modern art history.” Jennifer Merin, ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

“If there’s a jaw-dropping moment in this quiet, yet driven documentary it’s when af Klint’s abstract paintings are shown side by side against similar pieces from celebrated artists like Kandinsky, Mondrian, Cy Twombly, and Paul Klee. Straight and wiggly lines, colorful circles, triangles, spirals… they all did it, but it’s clear that af Klint did it first.” Empress Eve, GEEKSOFDOOM.COM

“It's an eloquent contribution to af Klint's rediscovery, which began four decades after her 1944 death. It's also a cogent argument for why that rediscovery impels nothing less than a rewriting of art history.” Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter

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Cinematheque at Home – curated by the Cinematheque – will offer new theatrical releases every week which our audiences can pay to stream through our website (by clicking the ‘buy tickets’ button). This is not only an opportunity for our patrons to see new cinema, but is an important way that they can continue to support independent film during this pandemic.