Ides Kihlen

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Ides Kihlen was born in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina on July 10, 1917, to Enrique Kihlen and Clelia Brunet. Mr. Kihlen was an industrial engineer from Sweden, who moved to Argentina as the president of the Compañia Comercial Noruega-Argentina (The Norwegian-Argentine Trading Company), Mrs. Kihlen was Argentine born and of Swiss decent. In 1918, Olga (Titi), Kihlen’s only sister was born. Soon after, the family moved to the Province of Chaco on the banks of the Paraguay River.

When the two girls were old enough to attend school, the Kihlens moved to Buenos Aires so that they could attend St. Margaret’s English School. About 1931, Kihlen began to study at the Perugino Incorporado school, at the suggestion of esteemed Argentine post-impressionist artist, Pío Collivadino, who was the director of the Escuela Nacional de Arte Decorativo at that time. Ides was too young to attend his school at that point, but she was finally admitted and began her second year of art studies there when she turned fourteen. Around 1937, Kihlen completed the five-year course and graduated as Professor of Drawing. She continued her studies at the school for two more years to earn a higher degree, and simultaneously took piano lessons at the Conservatorio Nacional (National Conservatory).

In 1940, Kihlen married Luis González Monteagudo, with whom she had her two daughters, Silvia and Ingrid.

In the 1980s, Kihlen continued her workshop practices and experimentation in the studio of Adolfo Nigro. It was during this time that she switched from painting on canvas to using hardboard to create on. It was also at this time that Kihlen "undertook to conquer lyrical abstraction which envelopes her work and her entire life with festive, playful, spontaneous images." [1]  Many of her compositions contain references to her love of music and playing the piano. Black and white piano keys, musical forms, clefs and staves are common motifs seen throughout her oeuvre.

Her process towards abstraction, like her own practice, has been lifelong. Kihlen experimented with themes and styles to "limit the formal aspects of painting in her work" reducing, but not neglecting, the academic eye she was trained to use. [2] The process of creating and painting is of significance to Kihlen's practice, which many consider is why she never sought to follow the trends of the global art scene or pursue a career as an artist. While her work is reminiscent of her personal inspirations such as Paul Klee, Kenneth Kemble, and Joan Miró, Ides Kihlen remains an artist of autonomy, projecting her own poetic, internal rhythms, and perceptions in her work. She uses an array of materials for her collages such as acrylics, cuttings and thread, then works with her hands, brushes, or rags to create rich and intriguing textures and layers of materials. [3] 

[1] Alberto G. Bellucci, "Ides Kihlen," Ides Kihlen: Pinturas, 2005, 9

[2] Mercedes Casanegra, "El mundo de Ides," Ides Kihlen, 2002, 17

[3] Ibid., 28

Animals

Ides Kihlen continues to create today at the age of 105, enjoying both music and art. The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires honored Kihlen’s 105th birthday with a solo exhibition on view from July 5th to August 7, 2022.