Viriditas - The Mystical in Art
Tegnerforbundet – The Norwegian Drawing Center presents the exhibition Viriditas – The Mystical in Art (14 April - 03 June2023). The exhibition features ten artists who work with the mystical, magical and spiritual both as a theme and a method. The exhibition consists of drawing, installation, sculpture and video, and is curated by Esra Duzen and Tanja Thorjussen (IKT Member).
Participating artists: Tia Maria Taylor Berry, Simone Hooymans, Taru Kallio, Kornelia Remø Klokk, Päivi Laakso, Linda Morell, Sverre Malling, Astrid Mørland, Käte-Elin Madsen and Amalie Vestergaard Olsen.
Viriditas is a word originating from Latin that refers to vitality, the fresh green color of plants, fertility and youthful vigor. It is associated with Hildegard Von Bingen (1098-1179) who used the word to describe spiritual and physical health in relation to the spiritual in nature.
In recent years the spiritual has found new footing in the field of art. Contemporary artists are working with the mystical, magical and spiritual as both a theme and a method. The theme has been explored in many exhibitions and publications internationally, such as the main exhibition at the 59th Venice BiennaleThe Milk of Dreams.
Pioneers within spiritual, surreal and abstract art, such as Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), Emma Kunz (1892-1963), Georgina Houghton (1814-1884), Leonora Carrington (1917 – 2011) and Ithell Colquhoun (1906 - 1988) have received great international recognition through large retrospective exhibitions. The history of art is now being rewritten, exploring a greater spiritual perspective. In the wake of the renewed interest in overlooked pioneers who were active 100 years ago, we have a new interest in the spiritual in art and an acceptance of this as a theme and work method.
Image Credits:
Viriditas The Mystical in Art at The Norwegian Drawing Center. Animation art by: Simone Hooymans
Viriditas - The Mystical in art curated by Esra Duzen (left) and Tanja Thorjussen (right) at The Norwegian Drawing Center. Photo by: Susanne Fleischmann