The Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) has been called a pioneer of abstraction, and claimed her radical art was channeled from the spirit world. The talk offers a guided tour through the occult milieu she was part of in Sweden. We will encounter an occultist king, poets receiving verses from the dead, an anarchist occultist sufi, an alchemist playwright, and many other significant figures of the period's cultural life, including several who were close to the enigmatic Hilma af Klint. By taking a deep dive into the local esoteric-artistic pond in which she swam, we will gain a fuller understanding of af Klint’s work and its symbolism.

Per Faxneld is an associate professor in the Study of Religions at Södertörn University, Sweden. He has published extensively on art and esotericism, lecturing and writing for museums across the world.

Food will be provided.

Purchase tickets online or at the door.

Event co-sponsored by the Swedenborg Library in Chicago.