BIRNBAUM, Daniel (ed.)
Swedish Ecstasy. Hilma af Klint, August Strindberg and Other Visionaries

Swedish Ecstasy tells the story of renowned Swedish artist Hilma af Klint and her artistic circle as the country sought to reconcile religious beliefs with scientific advances at the turn of the 20th century. While Sweden has often been characterized as a Protestant nation of great engineers and entrepreneurs, the country’s spiritual life has long been governed by a less official current, visible in its art and literature. In the early 20th century, mysticism and esoteric speculation ran through the works of some of Sweden’s most important artistic and literary figures.

This book explores these mystic visions and their meaning with this intellectual and spiritual milieu. Contemporary artists Cecilia Edefalk, Carsten Höller, Christine Ödlund, Daniel Youssef, and Lars Olof Loeld contribute essays that show how these artworks continue to inspire today.

Published in conjunction with the eponymous 2023 exhibition at Bozar, Brussels.

Contributions by Christine Odlund, Stephen McNeilly, James Brett, Briony Fer, Peter Cornell, Julia Voss, Jennifer Higgie, Magnus Florin, Carsten Holler and Cecilia Edefalk.

Published by Fonds Mercator / Yale University Press / Bozar, 2023
Exhibition Catalogues / Scenes / Magic