However, some will be offered for sale in November as NFTs.
The works in question are part of the series that this pioneer of abstraction is best known for, “Paintings for the Temple.”
Composed of 197 paintings that mix esoteric symbols, organic figures, geometric and alchemical motifs, the series represented a new genre in the early 20th century.
Some of these abstract compositions were exhibited at the Guggenheim in New York a few years ago as part of the retrospective “Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future.”
This avant-garde series was recently digitised in its entirety in the form of NFTs (digital tokens) by British company Acute Art.
Each painting from “Paintings for the Temple” is now available in two digital copies: one belonging to Bokförlaget Stolpe, the publisher of Hilma af Klint’s catalogue raisonné, and the other to be auctioned on Nov 14 on Goda (Gallery of Digital Assets).
This NFT sales platform was launched in May by a group of experts from a variety of sectors including multi-platinum musician Pharrell Williams and African-American painter Nina Chanel Abney.
“Beautiful and meaningful art truly transcends time, and Hilma af Klint’s work is a perfect example of that. We’re honoured to show her work on this platform and truly celebrate a remarkable woman,” Pharrell Williams said about the NFT launch of “Paintings for the Temple” in a statement.
Exhibited for the first time 40 years after her death
Indeed, Hilma af Klint’s prolific work has long been neglected compared to that of the more famous masters of abstraction such as Vasily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian.
The Swedish artist had even foreseen this: she demanded in her will that her abstract paintings and drawings not be presented to the public until 20 years after her death, as if she knew that her work would not be appreciated by her contemporaries. Probably because it was too far from the standards of the time… and because it was the work of a woman.
Her nephew Erik scrupulously respected her last wish, and the artist’s compositions were not exhibited until 1986, 40 years after her death.
Today, Hilma af Klint is a recognised artist. Acute Art has decided to present her revolutionary work to the greatest number of people thanks to NFT technology and an augmented reality app.
The latter, entitled “Hilma af Klint Walk,” can be downloaded for free from the website of the British company. It allows art lovers to immerse themselves in the abstract and esoteric world of this leading figure of modern painting.