Recognised as one of the world’s greatest painter, Frida Kahlo was not only an artist but also a revolutionary. She completely reconstructed our opinions on how we see the world today especially when it comes to society and people. She not only portrays her tragic life experiences in her paintings but also her immense resilience.
Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907, in Coyocoan, Mexico City, Mexico. She grew up in the family's home which was later referred to as the Casa Azul, meaning The Blue House. Her childhood has been extremely painful and tragic. From being infected with polio to being involved in a fatal bus accident, her life has been extremely traumatic, however, her endurance and patience helped her make through each day. She took her sufferings and used them to empower her work and her image. Frida’s most of the paintings are self-portraits depicting the fragility of her mind. In fact, out of a total of 143 paintings, 55 of them are self-portraits. Her life has been documented in a critically acclaimed movie ‘Frida’ with Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as leads.
Kahlo had an eccentric style. Bright flowers, dark braids and beautifully handcrafted blouses; her obvious aesthetic was all about her Mexican culture and ethnicity. She was all about mixing things and creating her style. Which explains why she was always experimenting with western styles and traditional attire. However, there was always one thing common, no matter what she wore and how she wore it, she always depicted her own artistic and political identity. Now what is fascinating is that even after nearly sixty-five years of her death, you find her style and her aesthetic in every nook and cranny of the world. It is everywhere. From floral headbands to vintage jewellery, and skirts with dramatic embroidery, Kahlo was surely able to leave her mark on this world.
However, there is more to this and her than meets the eye. It is not just because of her distinctive style that she is so famous, but because of the messages, she put forward as a feminist and a political activist. She took risks to bring about change, changed numerous rules so that girls could confidently move forward in their life. She is a true inspiration because she wasn’t afraid to depict her innermost feelings to the entire world through art. She was real. Her daring attitude helped her put her personal experiences under the spotlight without being humiliated for the same and it just kept on making her stronger. What is noteworthy is that she defied gender stereotypes which such grace and elegance, that even though it wasn’t common during that time, people didn’t raise any questions against her. She was a proud bisexual woman and wasn’t embarrassed by her masculine features like heavy brows and moustache. She sported them quite well if I must add.
Frida was more than just a fashionable artist, she was nationalist with a spirit of a true jingoist. Her radical attitude and bossy nature helped her go against the artistic waves of her time and she was able to change the opinions of many. She is a true icon and an influencer and a true revolutionary until the end. If I were to describe her in three words, I’d call her tenacious, sagacious an a trailblazer.
She was peculiar and strange but in a good way. Her forthrightness has resulted in her being an inspiration for many of us. We all can relate to her because she was always real and that is what is required in today’s world. The more real and honest she became, the easier it became for her to leave behind the phoniness of the world. It is a shame that she achieved international recognition only after her demise. Kahlo is now represented in public and private collections around the world. Viva Frida!
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