Frida Kahlo died 70 years ago, but the story of her life is still being told.
Case in point: the Mexican artist is the subject of a new series of programmes and exhibitions at the Artscience Museum called Frida Forever, which opened on 4 May. Instead of Kahlo’s art, Frida Forever turns the spotlight on everything else: her childhood, her inspirations, her motifs, her dresses, her medical history and even her trauma.
“I think Kahlo’s image is relevant today because she was able to break a lot of taboos about women’s experiences, about the challenges to overcome illness and physical injury, both exposing them and working through this trauma in creative ways,” says Circe Henestrosa, the head of the School of Fashion at the Lasalle College of the Arts. Henestrosa served as curatorial advisor to the Artscience Museum for Frida Forever. She previously co-curated the 2018 Victoria & Albert Museum blockbuster exhibition, Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up. That exhibition, which showcased Kahlo’s personal belongings, similarly took a biographical approach to the artist.
Frida Forever is anchored by the exhibition, Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon, which was produced by the Frida Kahlo Corporation and the Spain-based digital arts company, Layers of Reality. The latter can be credited for the cutting-edge technological tricks seen throughout the exhibition: one room offers a mesmerising display of Kahlo’s dreams coming to life, while another allows visitors to interact with symbols from her paintings as they walk. Just as captivating—and chilling—is a hologram depicting the accident that shattered a young Kahlo’s spine and pelvis and altered her life forever. The artist’s body appears to float in mid-air, suspended in time.
The biggest space in the exhibition is dedicated to Kahlo’s journey around the world and the influential people she encountered. The Mexican native travelled to cultural centres like New York and Paris, where she met fellow artists including Marcel Duchamp. This part of Kahlo’s history is told through a 360-degree digital projection of photographs, animation and graphics played on loop. Just as immersive is the Exquisite Corpse VR experience, where one can step into the vibrant, dream-like landscapes of Kahlo’s paintings.
Henestrosa appreciates the experiential elements of the exhibition, saying, “I love how the Artscience Museum gives access to many diverse audiences, from families with young children to artists, scholars and curators.”
What would the artist herself make of all this? One imagines that Frida Forever would have intrigued Kahlo, given her penchant for surrealism. For visitors to the Artscience Museum—especially those who haven’t picked up an art history book, or watched the 2002 biopic, Frida, starring Salma Hayek, or seen any of the Kahlo-centric documentaries that have been produced in the last decade alone—Frida Forever will likely be the most unforgettable way to get acquainted with the artist. It might even spark an enduring fascination, like the one Henestrosa has. “I think Kahlo will remain an inspiration for me all my life,” she says.
Below, take a walkthrough of the Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon exhibition with Honor Harger, the vice president of the Artscience Museum.
“In Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon, Frida’s story is now seen, felt, and heard, evoking a deeper understanding and connection to her life. The exhibition begins with a beautifully designed altar of Frida Kahlo that reflects the Mexican tradition of celebrating life after death.”
“The next space, The Accident, focuses on a pivotal moment in Frida’s life where she was involved in a near-fatal accident that broke her body but also became the catalyst for her love of painting. This multimedia work introduces a new multi-layer technology that adopts a new approach to holographic videos by overlapping layers of projection to give them a three-dimensional effect.”
“The third themed space, called The Garden of Love, is being featured for the first time. Inspired by Frida Kahlo’s garden at the Blue House, this section allows visitors to experience a Mexican-inspired garden filled with images of Frida with her plants and animals. A special programme has also been curated where visitors can play a part in decorating the floral garden by contributing their own wishes of love.“
“The Dream is a multimedia installation that explores the time Frida spent convalescing on her bed where a significant number of works were created. Depicting symbols of life, death, health, and illnesses, this beautiful installation uses precise projection mapping techniques and an AI algorithm inspired by Frida’s work.”
“This section titled Endless Symbology is an interactive space where visitors can engage with the famous symbols and motifs that recur in Frida’s works, such as the monkey, sugar skull, pineapples, flowers, and many more.”
“The exhibition also features a space called La Rosita that takes after the vibrant Mexican streets that Frida used to paint with her students. Here, visitors are invited to take a seat and colour their own portrait of Frida Kahlo—referencing Frida’s body of work which largely include self-portraits. They can then scan their drawing and see it come to life in an animated format on a large projection screen. “
“The key highlight of the exhibition is the Immersive Biography room, where visitors can traverse through the life of Frida Kahlo from her childhood to her final days in breathtaking technicolour.”
“Last but not least, on display are six dresses inspired by Frida’s fashion that were made by three Isthmus women who decided to revive traditional weaving.”
“Exquisite Corpse is an immersive virtual reality experience that delves into the vibrant tapestry of Frida Kahlo’s creative mind. Starting from the very place where Frida spent much of her time—her bed—viewers begin their journey in her room. From there, viewers are transported beyond the walls of her room into dreamlike landscapes and defining elements of Frida’s work.”
“Throughout June and July, our cinema will present a range of screenings that explore Frida’s life, including free screenings of Coco, the heartwarming Disney animated feature about the importance of family and pursuing your dreams. Coco features Frida Kahlo prominently, in a loving homage that sees the artist continuing to flourish in the afterlife.
“For her birthday on 6 July, we’re planning something special that will embody the revolutionary spirit and enduring impact of Frida’s work, blending art, technology, and a touch of mystery. I won’t reveal all the details just yet, but I can promise an event filled with unique surprises and creative inspiration, that captures the essence of Frida’s life.”
Read more:
Portrait of An Artist: See Min Ng
Singapore And Asian Artists On The Hows And Whys Of Craft And Creation
State Of The Art: To Pinaree Sanpitak, Freedom In Creation Is The Best Thing About Being An Artist