This show freaked me out. The work is phenomenal but what really blew me away was the absolutely bizarre experience I had while in one of the galleries.

 

I was reading the text about the artist’s mystical practices and séances when my hair literally stood on end and I got goosebumps – I was experiencing what’s known as the spiritual chills.

• Hilma af Klint turned to spiritualism after the loss of her sister. Working with a group of women called the Five, she committed herself, in near-secret, to an epic cycle of mediumistically inspired abstract paintings.
• I had never experienced anything like it before at any museum or gallery. However, when I broached the subject with one of the docents, she readily filled me in on how many people had the exact same experience.

Artnet concurs:

• The af Klint show has benefited from its connections beyond the typical art audience. Witchcraft has been trending in popular culture in recent years.
• Hilma af Klint may not have been widely taught in art history courses, but her work has a large presence in contemporary occult communities. During the Guggenheim show, devotees even offered free “psychic tours” where visitors are taught to “practice receiving spirit messages through select paintings as a group.”

Yesterday (Tuesday April 23) was the last day of this glorious show. I cannot stress enough how exceptional it is – it just knocks you off your feet. I’m also not sure if it is traveling to another city but if you hear that it is, make sure you run to see it.

Bottom Line.

Here’s how good the show has been:

• It was the most popular show in the Guggenheim’s entire 60 year history. It attracted over 600,000 visitors since it opened in October 2018.
• Museum membership increased by 34% during the run of the show.
• More than 30,000 copies of the catalogue were sold, surpassing the previous record set by the 2009 catalogue Kandinsky.
• Hilma af Klint–inspired merchandise has been flying off the shelves – accounting for 42% of all Guggenheim Store sales.

 

Scroll down for more photos from the show.