BEST-KEPT SECRETS

Unveiled at City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi from December, The Secret Paintings exhibits the work of Hilma af Klint, a Swedish artist-mystic who at the turn of the 20th century channelled the spiritual and scientific into her art in an attempt to understand life’s mysteries. Believing the world wasn’t ready for her work, she instructed that it be kept hidden for 20 years after her death and, indeed, its recent rediscovery has many believing she’s the foremother of modern abstract art. This beauty is The Ten Largest, No 7, Adulthood, Group IV, part of a 1907 series that symbolises the human life cycle. citygallery.org.nz