Frida Kahlo and You

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-25-2002, 08:45 PM

I have come across this article about Frida Kahlo in the November issue of Smithsonian, and it made me ponder about a few things, about which I would like to get the Forum's input.

As most of you know, Frida painted many self-portraits, many of which have meanings only really known to the artist, meanings about which art critiques all have something to say. In my opinion, they reflect her struggles with her identity, as a human faced with everyday struggles and disappointments life has to offer.
She did say though: "I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best."

I would like to know if you have ever painted a self-portrait as a catharsis and would love it if you would post your self-portrait and shared your thoughts. Secondly, have you ever felt that your mood has influenced your commissioned portraits?

By the way, a movie about Frida Kahlo

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-25-2002, 08:47 PM

Yikes, I should do less wondering and pay more attention. Sorry guys!

Chris Saper · 10-25-2002, 10:28 PM

My only marginally informed take on this issue is that Frida was probably always herself, but that Diego Rivera was the force that pushed her. Whether that was "Over the edge" is a matter of interpretation.

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-25-2002, 10:49 PM

Chris, I don't know if Rivera was the only source of her problems, after all, she battled the health problems throughout her life from having polio at the age of 6 and a horrific accident that nearly cost her life. The article mentioned that she used her self-portraits as sort of a diary and that she exorcised devastating experiences through the act of painting.

You did not mention if you have done self-portraits as a way of healing what ever ails you emotionally. Any comment?

Jeremiah White · 11-01-2002, 01:59 AM

Quote:

I don't know if Rivera was the only source of her problems

I blame it on the unibrow and mustache. I think that if she had sacrificed her man hair she might be taken a little more seriously.

As far as the emotional thing goes. It depends really. One could look at a self-portrait of someone and realize that they were depressed or happy or any other emotion an art critic comes up with. I've never made an overly blatant attempt at conveying an emotion as Frida did.

Although I'm not a fan of Frida (or the caterpillar crawling above her eyes) I think that the movie might be interesting. Pollock was a good movie and I almost laugh every time I see his work. (By the way, my artistic taste is my artistic taste so don't get all mad at me for expressing my views.)