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| Frida Kahlo by Fabian Ciar |
Frida Kahlo's work is still as vibrant as her Casa Azul
This year may mark the centenary of Frida Kahlo's birth, but her paintings still feel as fresh as ever.
It is incredible to think that this year marks the centenary of Frida Kahlo's birth. Her paintings still feel so fresh and modern to me. The largest ever retrospective of her work is currently being displayed at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
When I visited Mexico in 2002, the film Frida, starring Salma Hayek, had just been released. I was there for a conference, but managed to slip away to the cinema with a fellow truant. Having just climbed the pyramids in Teotihuacan, it was exhilarating to see them in the film as the place where Leon Trotsky and Frida embarked on their affair. We had visited Frida's home and could attest to the vibrant blue of the walls. We had seen for ourselves the bullet holes in Trotsky's house, conveniently located around the corner from Frida's Casa Azul.
I was introduced to Mexico's most famous artist couple at the 1989 Edinburgh festival, courtesy of Red Shift theatre Company's captivating production Frida and Diego by Greg Cullen. My fascination with this feminist icon, born of a macho society, has remained with me ever since.
Perhaps it is because Frida's pioneering style appeals to the female mind. She deals with acute emotions and expresses so vividly the agony and ecstasy of life. Frida frequently represented the anguish caused by her childhood polio, and the accident with a car that left her with irreparable spinal injuries and unable to have children. She committed to canvas the pain and love she felt during her on-off relationship with Diego (whom she married twice). She painted during her recovery from numerous bouts of surgery. She had long periods of introspection when she was confined to her bed that contributed to her unique vision. A whole life expressed through art.
My partner is Mexican and I am fortunate enough to be able to visit his home city regularly. He is based in the neighbourhood of Coyoácan where Frida lived and died. The Casa Azul houses one of the most stunning museums I have visited. As well as Frida's paintings, her studio, kitchen and bedroom have been lovingly preserved, laid out with a variety of her belongings and curiosities (she was a collector of Mexican artefacts), which give the impression that Frida is just around the corner in another room. The garden is sublime, and when in town I often while away an afternoon, sitting in the cool shade of a particular tree.
There will no doubt be many celebrations of Mexico's national treasure this year. But the main exhibition concludes on August 19. Sadly I won't be there to enjoy the works, some of which are being exhibited for the first time. Summer is upon us, and instead I must content myself with finding the paint that most closely matches Frida's "azul" so that I can transform my garden wall, lie back and think of Mexico.
If you have managed to see any of the Frida exhibitions, please let us know what you thought.
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