World Receivers: Georgiana Houghton, Hilma af Klint, Emma Kunz

Wassily Kandinsky is often recognized as the first artist to paint shapes and colors without regard to visual references in the world. However, abstract paintings were being produced even before Kandinsky's experiments with the form. Presenting their works side by side for the first time, World Receivers explores a fascinating and understudied episode of modernism, offering a long-overdue tribute to three expressive women artists.

In the middle of the nineteenth century, in England, Sweden, and Switzerland, respectively, Georgiana Houghton, Hilma af Klint, and Emma Kunz each developed their own abstract pictorial language. Though working completely independently from one another, these three artists shared a desire to make visible the laws of nature, the intellect, and the supernatural. Working within the context of the spiritual movements of their times—Houghton in Spiritism, af Klint in theosophy, and Kunz in naturopathy—they each produced abstract paintings that bore witness to a "mediumistic" praxis.

The exhibition World Receivers presents the works of these three artists side by side for the first time, exploring a fascinating and understudied episode of modernism. This offering serves as a long-overdue tribute to these three expressive women artists, whose abstract paintings challenged the traditional visual references and paved the way for a new era in the art world.

Kandinsky's experiments with form and color may have been groundbreaking, but they were not the only pioneers in the realm of abstract art. Houghton, af Klint, and Kunz, working independently and influenced by the spiritual movements of their time, each developed their own unique abstract pictorial language. Their works, now showcased together, provide a compelling glimpse into the rich tapestry of modernist experimentation and the contributions of these visionary women artists.

The exhibition World Receivers not only celebrates the artistic achievements of Houghton, af Klint, and Kunz but also sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of art history. By bringing these three artists together, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the evolution of abstract art and the diverse voices that have shaped its development. Through their innovative approaches and their unwavering commitment to exploring the spiritual and metaphysical realms, these women artists have left an indelible mark on the art world, paving the way for future generations of abstract artists.

The presentation of Houghton, af Klint, and Kunz's works side by side in World Receivers serves as a testament to the enduring power of abstract art to transcend the boundaries of the physical world and connect with the deeper, unseen forces that govern our existence. Their paintings, imbued with a sense of the mystical and the divine, invite viewers to embark on a journey of contemplation and self-discovery, challenging the traditional notions of what art can be and what it can achieve.

In the context of the current art landscape, where the boundaries between the material and the immaterial, the visible and the invisible, are constantly being explored and redefined, the work of these three artists emerges as a timely and relevant contribution. World Receivers offers an opportunity to revisit and reexamine the rich history of abstract art, and to celebrate the visionary contributions of these pioneering women artists who dared to venture beyond the confines of the tangible and into the realms of the unseen.

product information: