Cycle, Portal, Path at NEST

Artists: Loie Hollowell, Kyara van Meel, Jochem Mestriner, Katja Novitskova, Remco Osório Lobato, Molly Palmer, Buhlebezwe Siwani, Emma Talbot, Jennifer Tee, Johanna Unzueta, Ulla Wiggen

Exhibition title: Cycle, Portal, Path

Venue: NEST, The Hague, The Netherlands

Date: October 13, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Photography: ©Lotte van Uittert / all images courtesy of the artists, NEST, Rotterdam and Collectie Bruin-Heijn

This fall, Nest presents Cycle, Portal, Path: an exhibition that examines how the traces left by the Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) affect contemporary art 100 years later. Af Klint lived in a time full of developments and scientific turmoil. Scientists studied nature and dealt with phenomena such as atomic fission and X-rays; discoveries that shaped the world and made the invisible visible.

Cycle, Portal, Path shows that Af Klint’s exploration of the relationship between science, nature and spiritual life is as urgent now as it was in her time. The artists in the exhibition relate directly or indirectly to Af Klint and her views and supplement them with contemporary or futuristic ideas. Through meditative drawings and video installations, abstract paintings and AI-generated images, the artists reflect on new technologies, spiritual movements, ecology and the connection between then, now and future generations.

For this exhibition, curator Eva Burgering wrote the essay ‘Traces of the invisible’, which can be read here.

Collaboration Kunstmuseum x KM21

Cycle, Portal, Path was created in conversation with Kunstmuseum Den Haag and KM21, where the exhibitions Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondriaan: Forms of Life and Tai Shani – Our Hieromantic Objects of Love will be on view simultaneously. A diverse context program has been developed for the three exhibitions. Keep an eye on our website for updates.

Emma Talbot, Datura (from 21st Century Herbal), 2022

Cycle, Portal, Path, 2023, exhibition view, NEST, The Hague

Jochem Mestriner, Miasma, 2023

Cycle, Portal, Path, 2023, exhibition view, NEST, The Hague

Jennifer Tee, Primordial Chaos _~ Self Hood Meltdown, 2014

Katja Novitskova, Earthware (PDB approximation, emd 4455), 2023; Katja Novitskova, Earthware (PDB approximation, emd 21617), 2023; Katja Novitskova, Earthware (PDB approximation, emd 6002), 2023