Tyra Kleen - Constantly Searching
Norrköpings Konstmuseum, 10 Feb 2024 – 29 Sept 2024
The Norrköping Art Museum in Sweden is showing the most comprehensive exhibition to date of works by the unjustly forgotten artist Tyra Kleen (1874-1951). Under the title "Tyra Kleen - Constantly Searching" at Norrköpings Konstmuseum. From February 10, 2024 to September 29, 2024, the museum will be showing the largest ever presentation of works by the artist, photographer, writer and world traveler Tyra Kleen, who, like Hilma af Klint, had stipulated in her will that her estate should remain untouched until 50 years after her death.
As a young girl, she studied painting in Dresden from 1890, then in Karlsruhe (1892/1893) and Munich (1894/1895). In Germany, her encounter with Max Klinger and his art was of decisive importance. Under his influence, she turned to graphic art and perfected the art of lithography. The influence of Symbolism and Art Nouveau, which was already evident during her time in Germany, intensified during her subsequent studies in Paris in the fin-de-siècle. She became increasingly interested in esoteric currents, theosophy and spiritualism. From 1898 she lived in Rome for almost a decade, where this interest intensified and she became a member of a theosophical society. When she returned to Stockholm in 1909, Tyra Kleen became a member of the Edelweiss Society and was friends with the protagonists of the society, above all with the leader Huldine Fock and her daughters. She had a lifelong friendship with her daughter and successor at the head of the Edelweiss Society, Mary von Rosen. She immortalized many members of the family in wonderful portraits. Tyra Kleen also created two large designs of archangels for the Edelweiss Society for the design of two windows of the planned but never realized Edelweiss Temple, which will be on display at this exhibition.
The exhibition is curated by Helena Scragg and Karin Ström Lehander, who has been researching the life and work of Tyra Kleen for years. They attempt to illustrate the way in which Tyra's adventurous vagabond life on numerous journeys and long stays abroad influenced her artistic oeuvre through her interest in religion, theosophy and occultism. Tyra Kleen's spiritual quest is the common thread running through the exhibition. Kleen proves to be an outstanding draughtswoman with a fabulous feel for the effect of form and the play of lines. Colors are usually of secondary importance in her work. Her art is representational, but depicts worlds beyond everyday, sensually perceptible reality. Dreams, visions, myths and legends inspire her works. In 1911 she traveled to Sri Lanka and India and in 1914 to Indonesia, where she lived for two years. She described her experiences in both pictures and texts.
This exhibition will then go on tour and be on display in three other Swedish museums in 2024 and 2025, at Uppsala Konstmuseum, Bohusläns museum and Hallands Konstmuseum.
Tyra Kleen – Ständigt sökande
February 10, 2024 until September 29, 2024
Norrköpings Konstmuseum
Kristinaplatsen 6
602 35 Norrköping