Hilma School – Art Workshops for Children: The Magic of the Tree of Wisdom

Welcome to an adventurous series of art workshops at the National Museum of Iceland where we dive into the visual world of Hilma af Klint.

Hilma School takes place every Sunday in May and begins at 14:00.

Each workshop lasts about 1.5 hours, and parents are kindly asked to stay with their children during the session. Admission is free and kids can come for one workshop, or all of them, and everything in between.

The event is in Icelandic.
The workshop is free of charge.

The Magic of the Tree of Wisdom - Symmetry in Nature / Opposites of the Tree of Wisdom

The workshop begins with a story about a mysterious Tree of Wisdom — a tree that holds knowledge, secrets and stories of the world. Such trees appear in many myths and traditions, for example the world tree Yggdrasil and the Tree of Life in the Bible.

We then explore Hilma af Klint’s series The Tree of Knowledge and reflect on the patterns found within it.
What is symmetry?
Can we see it in trees or in the natural world around us?

And what opposites can we discover — light and darkness, stillness and movement, large and small?

Inspired by the story and Hilma’s artworks, participants will create their own Tree of Wisdom where symmetry, patterns and opposites grow outward like branches from a trunk.

About Hilma School

At Hilma School, each workshop is like a journey. We follow clues from Hilma’s artworks — her colours, circles, lines and mysterious symbols — and let them guide us into a creative exploration of the hidden patterns of nature.

What lies beneath the surface? What patterns appear when we listen to colours and allow shapes to speak?

The workshops will be varied and creative, giving participants the opportunity to experiment with different techniques, colours and forms. Each session becomes an adventurous blend of art, imagination and discovery — a space where creativity, curiosity and mystery can grow together.

Hilma School – where art opens a door to the invisible

The workshops are led by Freyja Eilíf and are part of her master’s project in art education at the University of Iceland. She has experience teaching at the primary school level and emphasizes a creative and exploratory approach, allowing children to explore the world of art and creativity.

Please note that permission will be requested to photograph the children’s artworks. These images will be used for the development of educational materials at the conclusion of the workshop series.