Although Frida Kahlo is considered today one of the best female artist of the 20th century, and her popularity is growing (also due to the biographical movie dedicated to her), her private life is still the target of legends, myths and speculations, many of these being rather impolite to her memory. But what better way one could find to discover the real Frida Kahlo, beyond the painted canvas, than by examining her books, clothes, private possesions, sketches and the likes, catching a glimpse into one of the most interesting biographies of the last century ?
For those who want to do just that, the memorial house of the artist in Mexico City - now turned into a splendid museum - will offer a chance, starting on the 6th of Juley 2007, when the exhibition "Treasures of the Blue House - Frida and Diego" will open. It is the first event of this size, presenting a rich, unknown collection of Frida's clothing, drawings, sketches and personal items. This treasure has so far been kept away froim curious eyes, locked away in trunks, cabinets and even in a walled-up room, despite the interest of researchers and collectors.
At first, this situation was a result of the desire expressed by Frida's husband, the murralist Diego Rivera. He put all the objects in trunks and cabinets, under locks, and asked that they would be opened only 15 years after his death. Yet, despite the fact that Rivera died in 1957, the curators of the memorial house and the administrators of the Kahlo fund thought that the documents might destroy the image of the couple. So the documents and objects remained nearly forgotten until 2004.
The exhibition is most likely to be a success, as the curators have selected a vast amount of objects : over 22.000 documents, more than 5000 photographs, 179 pieces of clothing (including the special corsets that Frida wore) and a rich collection of more than six thousand books and magazines. The art lovers will have the chance of discovering the real Frida Kahlo, beyond the misconceptions and legends, as a fragile human being, tormented by her sickness and fascinated by the images and symbols that would eventually create unique works of art.
June 2007
