The first time I went to Mexico I was in eighth grade on an exchange trip. I was working on a project about Frida Kahlo and wanted to see her house in Mexico City. My exchange family took me, and to my displeasure it was closed! (My final project consisted of an oil painting, which I created, which showed a portrait of Frida Kahlo, but with my face!)
Eight years later I finally got to go in! On our last day in Mexico we went to her house now called “La Casa Azul” (the blue house). It’s called this because the outside walls are the most vibrant blue I have ever seen. The line to go in was unreal and spanned around the museum. I was worried that the museum would close before we got to go in but soon enough we were in! The first rooms in her house had her original paintings and drawings on the walls. One particularly caught my eye.
For those who don’t know about Kahlo she had a remarkable life, but was burdened with sickness and pain for most of it. As a child she suffered from Polio, and at eighteen she had a life threating accident. The bus she was riding on collided with a trolley car and her spine was impaled with a bar, leaving her unable to conceive. In her art, she explores her inability to conceive. (Another subject she explores a lot is her feeling of mixed identity. She is part Mexican and European.) The piece that stuck out to me was called “Viva la Vida” meaning Long Live Life. Despite all of the pain she endured she was full of life and color.
After the rooms dedicated to showing her art. We went through a maze of her living quarters, which was really awesome! The two last rooms, which were my favorite was her art studio and her bedroom (she and husband—Diego Rivera slept separately). Her bedroom and studio looked out onto her beautiful garden.
As I was leaving, I almost missed a room that was newly added (a few years ago). I am so glad I didn’t because it was one of my favorite experiences on the trip. The dark lighted room contained Frida’s dresses, headpieces, jewelry and other accessories. It was so amazing to see her brightly colored traditional Mexican dresses. Her many corsets, which she had to wear due to her accident, were also on display.
In the next room contained runways outfits from popular contemporary designers who were inspired by Frida and her style. Designers that were featured included Jean Paul Gautier and Ricardo Tisci.
This newer exhibit I learned was created through a collaboration with the museum and Mexican Vogue. It was very much like the exhibits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute presents. Combining fashion and art is something I would very much like to explore in my career, and it was amazing to see one of my favorite artists in an exhibition dedicated to her art and fashion.
The website for the Museum:
http://bit.ly/1fbbEAG
(In Spanish)