Hilma af Klint – the Mother of Abstract Art.

As is usual with a lot of historical records, men often take the credit for work created or invented by women, overshadowing their achievements simply because they lived (and still do) in a white patriarchal society.

Other overlooked female luminaries include: Ada Lovelace, 1815-1852, (computer programming); Mary Anning, 1799-1847, (palaeontologist); Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759-97, (writer, philosopher, feminist); Rosalind Franklin, 1920-1958, (chemist and biophysicist); Marie Stopes, 1880-1958, (birth control). Obviously, I could go on.

And the same is true for the invention, or creation, of abstract art. Russian painter, Wassily Kandinsky is the self-proclaimed ‘father’ of abstract art, stating that the first abstract painting was made by him in 1911. However, Hilma af Klint’s work predates Kandinsky’s by several years.

Klint was born in Sweden (1862-1944) and studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. She was an accomplished artist and made a living selling her realistic and representational work. However, it was her interest in spiritualism that inspired her to create abstract works. Klint joined the anthroposophy movement which explored the connection between science and the spiritual world, which they believed was observable. That we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. In fact, Klint showed her ‘abstract’ work to anthroposophy founder, Rudolf Steiner who hated it. Steiner later showed Klint’s sketchbook’s to Wassily Kandinsky. You may draw your own conclusions.

Much of Klint’s work explores the connection between, nature, (sacred) geometry, the universe, science and spirituality. She created ‘automatic drawing’ as early as 1896.

Primordial Chaos, 1906, Hilma af Klint.

Hilma af Klint felt she was being directed by a force that would literally guide her hand. She wrote in her notebook:

“The pictures were painted directly through me, without any preliminary drawings, and with great force. I had no idea what the paintings were supposed to depict; nevertheless I worked swiftly and surely, without changing a single brush stroke.”

It is a technique I frequently try to emulate. Whether it comes from a divine connection to the universe or merely the unconscious mind is open to debate. But it is a very therapeutic and expressive way to practise art.

Personally, I think her abstract work is stunning.

You can read a more detailed account of Hilma af Klint’s life and work here.

The Minotaur Dreams of Ariadne – Out now.

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The Minotaur Dreams of Ariadne is my latest collection of haiku poetry and is now available for the princely sum of 99p! You couldn’t even buy a hosomaki for that price!

Just click on the cover and, by a process of sorcery not yet fully understood by humankind, you will be miraculously transported over to Amazon where you can avail yourself of a smorgasbord of haiku penned by yours truly.

The Minotaur Dreams of Ariadne is my eighth e-book, following hot on the heels of my second collection of poetry, Go Tell the Bees, published at the end of 2023.

But if poetry isn’t your thing, worry not, my furry little friends, there are a couple of novels and a short story collection on there as well to whet your appetite. Just click here to visit my author page.

Happy reading!

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Making Friends with Death.

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Making Friends With Death.

By David Milligan-Croft.

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I made friends with Death

a few years ago.

She came to visit me

in ICU. She brushed

her cool fingers, softly

down my cheek.

“It’s not your time, child,”

she’d whispered.

Her voice was calm 

and reassuring.

I knew that when the time came,

I would be ready.

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* * *

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Years later,

I was walking to my car,

past the blossoming park,

the aroma of fresh cut grass

filling my nostrils.

The heat from the coffee cup

I was holding

warmed my fingers

on the chill April morning.

I drove across the Pennines

listening to an upbeat playlist

to take my mind off the inevitable.

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* * *

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When I arrived at the hospital,

I was too late.

Death had already been 

to visit my father.

I could tell She had been

because he didn’t look 

like the man I once knew.

His essence had already left the building,

leaving this waxy,

empty husk in its place. 

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I have seen enough dead bodies 

to know when someone 

isn’t there anymore.

His jaw had dropped,

his belly bloated,

his skin was still warm

and clammy.

He must have struggled against Her.

(It is not death that is painful,

It is the clinging on to life.)

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As I held onto my father’s hand

I wondered when She would visit 

me again.

Would She be satisfied with what I have done 

with the precious moments 

of time She had gifted me?

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Had I done enough?

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Are we having fun yet?

It’s been aeons since my last post.

Well, a couple of months.

But time is relative.

As is my auntie Mabel.

I endeavour to practise art in some shape or form every day.

Sometimes, it’s drawing and painting.

Other times it’s writing poetry or prose.

Here are a few pieces of art I’ve been doing these past few months.

I do it for the mindfulness aspect –

the process rather than the result.

I find it calming.

It’s very therapeutic.

Art is Medicine.

If you’d like to read any of my poetry or prose, take a look at my books here.

Eating with the Crows

Eating with the Crows

By David Milligan-Croft.

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I took some stale bread out to feed the crows.

It was raining, so I didn’t think it would bloat them

if it was already wet. I tore pieces off

and scattered them on the grass.

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The crows usually waited until I went back inside

before leaving the safety of the branches.

I dusted the crumbs from my hands and glanced around,

then went back to my basement apartment.

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A few minutes later, I was standing at the sink

washing the dishes, when a crow landed

on the window ledge in front of me, 

with a piece of bread in its mouth.

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It dropped the bread on the sill, pecked a piece off

and ate it whilst looking at me with its obsidian eye.

When it had finished the morsel it flew off

and returned, momentarily, with another piece.

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My heart was thrumming like a hummingbird’s.

I wanted to slide open the window 

And break bread with my newfound friend.

But I was fearful I might frighten it away.

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So, I stayed there. Motionless. 

Watching this imperious creature, watching me.

Sometimes, it is better to do nothing,

than to reveal how we truly feel.

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If you like what you’ve just read, you might want to consider purchasing my new collection of poetry, Go Tell the Bees.

Christmas #1!

What’ll be at the coveted #1 slot this Christmas?

Will it be, Last Christmas by Wham? Wizard’s I wish it could be Christmas every day? Or, my personal favourite, Go Tell the Bees, by David Milligan-Croft?

Wait, what? That’s not a song.

No, it’s a fantastic, moving and heartfelt new collection of poetry by David Milligan-Croft. Think of them as lyrics for the modern age. You can sing them if you like.

It was Amazon’s #1 in Hot New Releases in both Contemporary poetry and British & Irish poetry when it came out at the end of October. Unfortunately, it’s slipped down the rankings now.

It would be nice to get it back up to #1 in time for Christmas, wouldn’t it? I mean, just imagine the look on all those hungry little kid’s faces when they see me tucking into a family size tin of Quality Street. Bless ’em.

So, you know what to do, folks. Let’s get Go Tell the Bees back to #1 where it belongs!

Meanwhile, here are a couple of proper Christmas ditties from yesteryear.

RIP Shane MacGowan

Where to buy Bees around the world

My new poetry collection, Go Tell the Bees is now available on Amazon around the globe if you would like a copy.

Just click on your particular country link below and it will take you straight to my book.

Many thanks.

(And, remember, if you don’t buy a copy, a little fuzzy bee sheds tears of sour honey.)

USA: amazon.com

India: amazon.in

Germany: amazon.de

France: amazon.fr

Spain: amazon.es

Italy: amazon.it

Netherlands: amazon.nl

Japan: amazon.co.jp

Brazil: amazon.com.br

Canada: amazon.ca

Mexico: amazon.com.mx

Australia: amazon.com.au

Go Tell the Bees – out now.

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My second collection of poetry, Go Tell the Bees, is now available on Amazon.

The poems explore love, death, grief and heartbreak. Perfect for all the family! They also delve into the human condition, the universe and our place in it.

Ideal for a virtual Christmas stocking. Or a very real Kindle, tablet, laptop or smartphone.

At 32,845 characters, it’s a measly 0.006 pence per letter! True, some of them have been used more than once, but not like this they haven’t. (You can read that however you like.)

So fly, my fuzzy little friends, over to Amazon and avail yourself of Go Tell the Bees tout de suit!

(Just click the links or the cover.)

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You Know Nothing of the Darkness

Selene, Greek goddess of the Moon.

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You know nothing of the darkness.

by David Milligan-Croft.

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You were born into this world

on a glorious summer’s morning,

when the days are long

and the air is filled 

with the scent of honeysuckle.

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And you left it before Selene

ever had a chance to drive her chariot

over the horizon to welcome in the night.

You know nothing of the darkness

that came before, or after, you were born.

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Art is Medicine exhibition at Arc

The Art is Medicine exhibition opened with a special preview on Friday evening, then to the public at the Saturday Art Club.

The exhibition showcases the work created by patients on Arden Ward, acute adult mental health unit at Stepping Hill Hospital, Pennine Care NHS FT.

The exhibition aims to demonstrate how the arts can help in the treatment and recovery from mental illness and maintenance of mental wellbeing.

Arc, who volunteer on the wards once a week, then used some of the activities at the Saturday Art Club where families tried out the benefits for themselves. (To great effect, as you will see below.)

Engaging in arts activities for mental wellbeing is about the process, not the result.

When a person engages in art their brain releases dopamine regardless of whether the resulting work is any good or not. It is the process of creating something that gives the benefit, not the end result. Engaging in the arts improves brain plasticity and increases neural connections.

Numerous patients have gone on to be referred to Arc’s creative programmes which have helped create the link between their treatment in hospital and a safe space in the community. Ultimately, giving people new coping strategies to maintain mental wellbeing and avoid readmission to hospital.

L to R: Anthony Hassall, CEO Pennine Care NHS FT; yours truly, (Technical Instructor, Pennine Care NHS FT and Trustee of Arc); Jacqui Wood, CEO Arc; Dr Jackie Kindell, Head of AHPs & Social Workers, Pennine Care NHS FT.

L to R: Dan Meredith, Technical Instructor, Arden Ward; Cheryl Miller, Technical Instructor, Norbury Ward; Jacqui Wood, CEO Arc; me again.

For the official opening of the Art is Medicine exhibition at the Saturday Art Club, families tried their hand at some of the activities such as Blackout Poetry and Abstract Self-Portraits. The results were amazing as you can see below. With some incredible talent on display. Culminating with the very personal self-portrait of Ivy and her struggle with Type 1 Diabetes.

How we use the arts to express ourselves, what’s important to us and what’s going on in our world depends on the individual. We are all unique. And we all have our personal battles. Art is a way to help us fight and understand them. And maybe understand each other along the way.

#ArtisMedicine.