Photo : Photo Voyez-Vous (Luca Lomazzi
Sun and Moon: Discussion on Ivan Aguéli
Ivan Aguéli, whose luminous works are featured in the “Sun and Moon” exhibition, is the subject of a discussion between art historians Viveca Wessel—the artist’s biographer—and Pascal Rousseau.
Institut suédois
About
Ivan Aguéli, born in 1869 in Sala—a small mining town in a mountainous region in the heart of Sweden—and who died in 1917 in Barcelona, believed that art could be a gateway to a higher truth. His life was a constant quest, shaped by various spiritual, political, and aesthetic doctrines. A journey that took him to places as far apart as Paris and Cairo. From the Lutheran Protestantism of his childhood to the mysticism of Swedenborg, then from anarchy to the esoteric Islam of the Sufi tradition.
Pascal Rousseau joins Viveca Wessel to discuss the artist’s life and work.
Pascal Rousseau is a professor of contemporary art history at the Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and a specialist in the historical avant-garde, early abstract art, and the links between imagination, science, and technology in contemporary culture. Notable exhibitions he has curated include: “Cosa mentale. The imaginaries of telepathy in 20th-century art” (Centre Pompidou, Metz, 2015), “Hypnosis. Art and hypnotism from Mesmer to the present day” (Musée des Arts, Nantes, 2020), and, most recently, “Hilma af Klint. The Temple Paintings. 1906-1915” (Grand Palais, Paris, 2026).
Viveca Wessel is an art historian, author, and teacher, considered one of the leading Swedish experts on Ivan Aguéli. From 1975 to 1983, she worked at the Moderna Museet, before directing the prestigious Gerlesborg School of Fine Arts from 1983 to 1999. Her work is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that explores the connections between art, philosophy, spirituality, and religion, as well as the psychology of the creative process. Her major work on Aguéli, Ivan Aguéli – Porträtt av en rymd (1988, not translated), has contributed to a better understanding of the painter’s artistic and spiritual world.
Useful Information
- Free admission, no reservation required
- Discussion in English
Our take on this event
Journey into the enigmatic world of Ivan Aguéli, where art meets mysticism, anarchy, and deep spiritual questing. Join two renowned art historians for an insightful dialogue that unpacks the complex life of this visionary painter. It is a rare opportunity to explore the boundaries between creativity and transcendence.
The Swedish Institute hosts a lecture dedicated to the life and artistic vision of Ivan Aguéli on Thursday, 10 December 2026. From his childhood in Sweden to his travels through Paris and Cairo, Aguéli pursued a path where art served as a gateway to higher truths. Art historian Pascal Rousseau and expert Viveca Wessel will engage in a conversation to examine how spiritual and political doctrines shaped his work. The event takes place from 19:00 to 20:15. Attendance is free of charge and does not require any prior booking, making it an accessible evening for art enthusiasts.
On Thursday, 10 December 2026, the Swedish Institute presents a deep dive into the legacy of Ivan Aguéli, an artist whose career spanned from his origins in rural Sweden to his time in Spain and beyond. The discussion, scheduled from 19:00 to 20:15, examines how his experiences with diverse ideologies, including Sufi Islam and early abstract movements, defined his creative approach.
The conversation features Pascal Rousseau, a professor of contemporary art history at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Viveca Wessel, a distinguished scholar and leading authority on Aguéli. Together, they explore the intersection of philosophy, religion, and the psychology of the creative process that defined the painter’s life.
Please note that this session will be conducted entirely in English. Admission is free and open to everyone without the need for a reservation. This is a unique opportunity to gain insights from two prominent experts on an artist whose work remains a profound exploration of human imagination.
