Hilma Af Klint’s Malta Connection: Pioneer of Abstract Art on ARTE

Ever wondered what connects the bustling streets of Valletta to the birth of abstract art? The answer might surprise you. Hilma Af Klint, the Swedish pioneer of abstract art, had a profound connection to our tiny island nation. This week, ARTE is broadcasting a documentary dedicated to her life and work, offering Malta-based art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to explore this fascinating link.

Who Was Hilma Af Klint?

Born in 1862, Hilma Af Klint was a Swedish artist known for her innovative, abstract paintings. She was a member of the spiritualist group ‘The Five’, who believed in communicating with spirits through automatic drawing. Af Klint’s art was deeply influenced by these spiritualist beliefs and her interest in the occult. However, it was her groundbreaking abstract works, created decades before the likes of Kandinsky and Mondrian, that have secured her place in art history.

Af Klint’s Malta Connection

So, what’s Malta’s role in all this? In 1906, Af Klint visited Malta as part of a Mediterranean cruise. The island’s unique light and ancient history left a deep impression on her. She returned to Sweden with sketches and notes, which later inspired some of her most iconic works. One such piece, ‘The Ten Largest’, a series of large-scale paintings created between 1907 and 1915, is believed to have been influenced by her Maltese experiences.

Today, you can still find echoes of Af Klint’s Malta visit in the winding streets of Rabat and the ancient ruins of Mdina. Standing in the silent, sun-drenched courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral, where she might have sought refuge from the Mediterranean heat, one can’t help but imagine the artistic sparks that were ignited here.

Catch the ARTE Documentary

The ARTE documentary, ‘Hilma Af Klint – Painting the Unseen’, delves into the artist’s life, work, and spiritual beliefs. It explores how her groundbreaking abstract art challenged the norms of her time and paved the way for future artistic movements. For Malta-based viewers, it offers a unique chance to connect with our island’s artistic heritage and its influence on a major figure in art history.

Tune in to ARTE on Tuesday, 14th September, at 20:15 CET to catch the documentary. If you miss it, don’t worry – it will be available on the ARTE website for a month afterwards.

After watching, why not take a stroll around Rabat or Mdina, and see if you can’t spot the artistic inspiration that Malta provided for Hilma Af Klint?