It was interesting to see and read about the work of Klint recently, especially whilst I'm researching Ithell Colquhoun. Despite working at different times, there are some striking similarities between the two, not least both women possessing an innate motivation to carve their own path artistically.
I found this article on Klint after seeing the exhibition and was particularly struck by the references to her pioneering spirit.
As with Colquhoun of course, it's important to acknowledge the fact that both artists came from financially mobile families and were at liberty to pursue their artistic journeys. I've been thinking about this and how it must have impacted their sense of freedom.
Nonetheless, in a world with little opportunity for women to pursue artistic lives, I am really struck not just by them creating opportunities for themselves, but remaining dedicated to their work their whole lives.
Some key points on Klint's approach and processes:
The use of symbols such as spirals and circles
Abstraction of organic forms
Mystical forces beyond the physical world
Dynamic colour
The relationship between external forms and their underlying forces
Responding to political and social upheaval - transition from a visual language of organic shapes to increasingly geometric shapes and planes of solid colour
The discovery of some of this technique reminds me of the automatic techniques used by the Surrealist movement and by Colquhoun. It's really interesting to find these links. It made me think about how I can continue to use watercolour in this way and perhaps look at some more organic forms. UP until now I've mostly been using stone sites and landscapes as 'starters'.
I like how the figures in the piece below are small and contained within the larger structures of colliding shapes and forms.
I was informed by this when painting the below experiment:
