The exhibition, entitled Colour of Life. Frida Kahlo, explores the life and work of the acclaimed Mexican artist and feminist icon.
It also marks the 95th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and Mexico.
The central concept of the exhibition is to intertwine Kahlo’s biography with her artistic creations.
“Without knowing at least some of her life, and delving into it, one cannot truly perceive these works in a way that they speak to us," said curator Zofia Urban, noting how Kahlo always stated that she painted her own reality, understood not only through what she saw but also what she experienced at a given moment.
"Each of these paintings has its own story," Urban said.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view photographs of Kahlo taken by renowned photographers such as Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham, as well as snippets from films by Nickolas Muray, who was Kahlo's lover for 10 years and a long-time friend.
In addition to the main exhibition, a multi-generational creative space called "Frida and Fridita" has been designed to resemble Kahlo's home and is aimed predominantly at younger visitors.
'What is your colour of life?'
"We will be able to sit at the dining table, lie in a bed styled like the artist's, and look in a mirror which was on her canopy when she painted her self-portraits," said Urban. "Children will also be able to try on Mexican dresses and sombreros and test their skills as painters. The exhibition also includes a creative space for adults, where a weaving loom will be set up, giving visitors and opportunity to participate in creating a collective fabric artwork – a piece that will represent all who have visited the exhibition."
Urban added: "Frida Kahlo was an extraordinary artist and woman, who decidedly was ahead of her time. The topics she touched upon in her art are universal, and the emotions she experienced are relatable to all of us. Therefore, everyone can to some extent identify with her, especially when they learn more about her biography. Her paintings are also remarkable for their stunning colours. Thus, we also ask the visitors the question 'What is your colour of life?'"
Kahlo's insistence on her independence and her ability to express her physical and emotional struggles through her art have made her an emblem of female empowerment and resistance. Her paintings often explore themes of identity, post-colonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society.
These were radical at the time and continue to resonate with many people today. Her self-portraits, in particular, are celebrated for their depiction of the female experience and form, breaking traditional norms of female representation in art.
The Colour of Life. Frida Kahlo exhibition will remain open until September 3. It provides an opportunity to engage with Kahlo’s unique worldview and artistic vision in a way that transcends geographical boundaries and cultures.
Viewers watch a biographical film about Frida Kahlo at Warsaw's Royal Łazienki Park earlier this week. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
This year marks 65 years since the founding of the Museo Frida Kahlo, the dedicated museum in Mexico City preserving Kahlo's former residence and work.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP