The importance of Frida Kahlo’s life and work lies in her ability to transcend her own context and become a universal symbol of resilience and authenticity. Through her art, the Mexican painter explored complex themes such as pain, identity, and belonging, using her personal experience and physical suffering as a canvas to investigate the human condition. Her self-portraits, loaded with symbolism, offered a genuine perspective on the Mexican culture.
Kahlo, ahead of her time, used her art as a tool of empowerment and political expression, advocating for authenticity and self-acceptance. Her legacy continues to inspire activists and people from different parts of the world, who recognize in her a symbol of the fight for freedom and equality.
In the artistic field, the distinctive style of the 20th century icon, which incorporates elements of Mexican folklore along with surrealism, has marked the aesthetics of numerous creators, motivating them not only to adopt influences in their own works, but also to value and collect their paints.
Kahlo’s life and work has impacted artists such as Madonna, Beyoncé and Salma Hayek.. Madonna has found inspiration in the painter’s strength and rebellious spirit, which is reflected in the emotional intensity of some of her performances and in her penchant for collecting her art. Beyoncé, for her part, has paid tribute to her by emulating her unique and distinctive style in photo shoots. Salma Hayek took the connection a step further by playing Kahlo on the big screen in the film ‘Frida’.
Now, Peru has proven not to be exempt from the influence of Frida Kahlo, evident in artistic expressions that perpetuate the essence of her work and, mainly, the principles imparted by this iconic figure who, despite the countless vicissitudes in her life, He managed to transform his suffering into art.
In Peru, the life and work of Frida Kahlo have served as a source of inspiration for various artists who, through their creations, reflect the importance and impact of her legacy in the country. Through creative projects that dialogue with the history and symbolism of the Mexican woman, our country demonstrates how the painter is still relevant.
The director Carla Gutierrez She is one of the Peruvians who has used the life and work of Frida Kahlo to create art. She, along with her work team, created a documentary in order to pay tribute to the Mexican artist.
A new feature film that delves into the life and work of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has captured the attention of the public and critics after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024. This festival is recognized as the most significant within in the field of independent cinema worldwide. The film has achieved an outstanding reception, reflected in a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a film criticism platform. Qualifiers of the work such as “immersive”, “reflective”, “convincing” and “powerful” have flooded the comments of experts.
The distinctive aspect of this film lies in its innovative narrative approach, employing animation inspired by the unique style of Frida Kahlo. This approach has been especially praised for managing to convey the artist’s feelings and emotions, offering the viewer an experience that goes beyond a simple biography. The ability to immerse the audience in the mind and heart of Kahlo has been a key factor in the film’s success.
In dialogue with HELLO! TV, Gutiérrez revealed one of the reasons why he decided to carry out the audiovisual project. “I saw an opportunity when I found out that there were enough writings by Frida. Later I discovered that there were many more in which she tells us what she felt throughout her life. I had not seen a documentary that focused entirely on her voice. “I didn’t want to discover it through the distance of history,” she said.
Another director who evokes the life of the iconic woman of the 20th century is Marco García-Velarde Paredes. In March 2024, her play premiered, in which some passages from Frida were shown. The synopsis of the play titled ‘Frida Kahlo: Viva la vida’ appears on the CuentaArtes page.
“On a day of the dead, Frida Kahlo waits for her guests and while cooking, she evokes Diego, Rockefeller, Trotsky, she expresses her opinion about artists, about Mexico, the United States, France and inevitably the memory of the accident and the presence of death. A monologue between pain, passion and humor,” reads the synopsis of the play, whose author is the Mexican Humberto Robles.
In the field of modeling, the Peruvian model Luren Marquez paid tribute to the painter. In the penultimate edition of ‘New York Fashion Week’, which took place in September 2023, our compatriot wore outfits similar to those worn by Frida.
Marquez was able to pay tribute to Frida after Los Pattern, a distinguished lifestyle brand known for its fine silk accessories, joined forces with the painter’s family to remember her important legacy.
After the presentation of the Peruvian, international media such as elle They praised the Peruvian’s performance at the event that attracts the attention of established designers, celebrities, fashion critics and style enthusiasts from around the world.
It should be noted that Luren has been a presenter on Univision and Telemundo, as well as in various Latin music spaces. “Getting there is difficult, staying is complicated. Always carrying the name of my country high,” she declared to the international media.
The Mexican artist is one of the most outstanding figures in 20th century art. Born in 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico, her life was marked by physical misfortune from an early age, including polio that she suffered at age six and a serious traffic accident at age 18, which left her with chronic pain and health problems due to the rest of his life.
However, it was this forced isolation and long periods of convalescence that pushed her towards painting, channeling her physical and emotional suffering into canvases that would later become iconic. Her work is characterized by its brutal honesty and bold exploration of themes such as identity, postcolonialism, class, and race in Mexican society.
Throughout her career, Kahlo created some 200 works, mainly self-portraits, in which he often incorporated surreal symbols and images to express his own anguish and pain. His relationship with the also famous painter Diego Rivera greatly influenced his life and work.
Her work, rediscovered and celebrated in the decades since her death in 1954, has become a symbol of resilience, creativity and the bold expression of female individuality, securing her place as a revolutionary artist who challenged the conventions of her time.
