I have to say, I love Frida Kahlo… but why?
Frida Kahlo was a painter and poet born in Mexico in 1907. As a teenager she had a terrible accident that left her physically impaired and caused her to suffer from severe pain her whole life. Frida is probably most famous for her self-portraits, which comprise a large portion of her work.
Las dos Fridas, Frida Kahlo, 1939
One of the things I admire most about her legacy is the elegant feminine power, or should I say feminist power, she expressed in her daring and challenging look. Not only in her defiant glance, but also in her style as a woman who embraced indigenous traditions by wearing what we would now call ‘ethnic’ garments and accessories. It is important to know that at the time women would usually wear ‘western’ clothes, but Frida made a point of photographing and depicting herself in traditional, indigenous attire. This was a conscious socio-political statement and definitely also an important personal choice, motivated by her deep appreciation of indigenous art, folklore and craftsmanship.
But not only her traditional style was revolutionary during her lifetime, she also wore men’s clothes on occasion and openly lived out her bisexual orientation. All these things seem somewhat daring or revolutionary today, but for a woman during the first half of the 20th century in Mexico this was outrageous and brave.
Pain, suffering and hurt were important subjects in Frida’s art, as were vibrant colours, animals and flowers. Through her art she challenged taboos, especially about the body, sexual orientation and the representation of women as producers and subjects of art. Her work is a celebration of colours, emotions and symbols.
La columna rota, Frida Kahlo, 1944
Frida still inspires through her unique look and style. Here are some fairly recent examples of inspirations taken from popular culture, fashion and art, bringing to life her colours and Latin American life essence… enjoy!
Lots of love,
Chiara
Cool blog, I didn’t know she was bisexual.
Well written, especially your description of her type of art. I also love Frida!
She’s so cool. I really enjoyed an exhibition with her paintings in Denmark a year ago.
Bacanisimo marika!