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Ides Kihlen: Compositions
July 14 - August 26, 2022 -
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.
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PAINTINGS & COLLAGE
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
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Completed work from the above video:
Ides Kihlen, Sin titulo, July 10th, 2022, the day of her 105th birthday, acrylic with paper collage on panel, 85 x 120 cm. -
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Animals
Before her first exhibition in 2002, Kihlen only shared her creations with close friends and family. In the series of works below, Kihlen's playful side flourishes through small toy horses and paintings for her granddaughter, as well as several paintings of her beloved cats and dogs. Kihlen is known as an animal lover and her two dogs Xul and Baby keep her company as she paints for hours on end. -
Toys and Children's Illustrations
"In 1968, Kihlen's only granddaughter, Marcela, was born. Kihlen began to make illustrations to accompany the children's stories that she read to Marcela. The drawings are reminiscent of the iconography of Russian primitives, which the Constuctivists rediscovered at the beinning of the 20th century." [1]
[1] Mercedes Casanegra, "Chronology," Ides Kihlen, 2002, 128 -
Museum Exhibitions 2022
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.
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Ides Kihlen: Todo el siglo es carnaval
Museo de arte moderno de Buenos AiresView on VimeoKihlen atravesó todo el siglo XX —sus pensamientos, corrientes artísticas y coyunturas— en la búsqueda de un lenguaje propio; en él, la música también ocupa un lugar central y es el motor simbólico que guía la distribución de ritmos y silencios.
Kihlen spent the entire 20th century —her thoughts, artistic currents and conjunctures— in search of her own language; in it, music also occupies a central place and is the symbolic engine that guides the distribution of rhythms and silences.
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Further Learning
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THE UNA RECOGNIZES IDES KIHLEN WITH THE TITLE HONORIS CAUSA
Universidad Nacional de las Artes June 2022The Honoris Causa doctorate is awarded by the Universidad Nacional de las Artes and is the highest recognition granted by the institution.Read more -
RUMBO A LOS 105, UN GRAN AÑO PARA IDES KIHLEN: “SOY UN FENÓMENO DE LA NATURALEZA”
María Paula Zacharías March 15, 2022La artista argentina más grande sigue en actividad; en su agenda 2022, una seguidilla de exposiciones en varias ciudades de los Estados Unidos y España se suman al homenaje que...Read More -
A los 104 años, sigue pintando y tocando el piano Ides Kihlen
August 1, 2021Dueña de una carrera fascinante, que mantuvo para sí hasta que un galerista la convenci de exponer sus obras a los 83 años, la artists plástica y concertista de piano... -
Homenajean a la artista “secreta” más longeva de la Argentina que realizó su obra en silencio a lo largo de 80 años
June 29, 2022 -
Las 10 de La Mañana: Ides Kihlen
February 14, 2022Artistsa. 104 años.Read More -
Ides Kihlen: Pinturas
Galeria Rubbers Internacional 2005 -
Homenaje a Ides Kihlen
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes -
Ides Kihlen
Collected essays by Rodrigo Cañete, Juan Javier Negri, and Rafael Squirru 2018 -
Ides Kihlen
Mercedes Casanegra, Deutsche Bank 2002 -
El Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires inaugura Ides Kihlen: Todo el siglo es carnaval
2017 Panorama Directo -
Homenaje Rumbo a los 105 años: Ides Kihlen, la genial artista que sigue pintando todos los días y ahora exhibe en el Mu
Paula Conde July 6, 2022
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Ides Kihlen | Arte Online
100 años de libertad View on Vimeo -
Ides Kihlen
Inauguración "Retratos de un pasado presente" | Museo de la Cárcova