Binaries, Spectra, and Unity: Postgenderism and the Paintings of Hilma af Klint

This paper employs a queer theoretical framework to provide a comprehensive analysis of Hilma af Klint's life and artistic contributions. Now recognised by many as the first abstract expressionist, af Klint created an unparalleled body of work in terms of productivity, scale, and nonobjectivity. Her resonance with contemporary audiences can be in part attributed to her exploration of nuanced subjects like gender and sexuality. By examining her artwork, correspondences, diaries, and mediumship notes, this research evidences her relationships with women, her fluid gender identity, and her advocacy for androgyny. This paper refines existing scholarship that identifies af Klint's conception of a “feminine-androgynous” ideal, contending that she instead endorses a postgender utopia. By asserting af Klint is a queer artist, this paper challenges the suppression of her identity in formal presentations, such as at the renowned Guggenheim exhibition "Paintings for the Future." This document protests against LGBTQ+ censorship and constructs a compelling case for queer interpretations of af Klint's artistic expressions.