The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is presenting "What Stands Behind the Flowers," an exhibition centered on Hilma af Klint's "Nature Studies" portfolio of 46 works on paper acquired in 2022. Completed from 1919 to 1920, these precise botanical renderings include abstract diagrams, and the show features over 50 additional pieces contextualizing the series within the Swedish artist's broader practice, including earlier works like her 1889 mushroom studies and "The Atom Series" from 1917.
The exhibition matters because it reframes af Klint—widely recognized as a pioneer of non-objective abstraction—as an artist deeply engaged with both scientific observation and spiritual inquiry. By foregrounding her nature studies, MoMA reveals how af Klint synthesized earthly documentation with metaphysical exploration, using geometry and color to uncover the occult secrets of botanical forms. This show offers a timely meditation on the enduring tension between artistic invention and natural wonder.