Ok I’m going to be totally honest– growing up I didn’t know who Frida Kahlo was. I think I first heard of Frida Kahlo as an adult, when I became a blogger.
It is sad when you think about it, but it is understandable. We don’t learn about Latin American art or culture unless we specifically decide to study it in college. I took art history in high school, but this wasn’t one of the artists we studied.The good thing is that my son, who is now seven, has known about Friday Kahlo since he was in kindergarten. They had a cultural study as part of their dual language program and their country was Mexico, so they read books about Frida Kahlo, learned about the Day of the Dead and about different places in Mexico like Chichen Itza. It was really cool to watch him get excited about Mexico. He even told me he wants to go!
But I digress…
This post is about everything I learned about Frida Kahlo at the exhibit currently happening at the Brooklyn Museum, “Las Aparencias Engañan” Appearances Can Be Deceiving.”
I was able to check it out before it opened to the public (yay!). I learned so much about Frida and I’m fo’ sure a super fan ahora.
The exhibit is completely bilingual and it is divided in different sections like “art and revolution” “fashioning gender”, “disability and creativity” and “marriage” among others.
10 Things I Learned about Frida Kahlo in Brooklyn
Frida Kahlo came from a multicultural background. Her dad was German, so Frida was a German-Mexican. Frida’s first name was Magdalena but she preferred to go by her German name, Friday (which is funny ot think about because if we think “Frida” we automatically think Mexican, amirite?
Frida turned an awful experience into something that changed her life and the world forever. Frida started painting because she was BORED in her hospital room after a huge accident that nearly killed her! Frida is also an inspiration to those who have physical ailments- you CAN do anything! Frida actually had a prosthetic leg- that didn’t stop her!
In spite of my long illness, I feel immense joy in LIVING. -Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo didn’t take her husband’s name. The feminist in me loves this because I struggled with taking my husband’s name (mainly because I love my own, nothing to do with his name).
Frida didn’t listen to societal expectations about marriage… and questioned and defied gender norms. Frida married a man over 20 years her elder, and she took on lovers (both men and women).
Frida had her own style. Colorful skirts, scarves, jewelry, flowers in her hair, patterns that celebrated Mexican culture. She is still influencing fashion and style today.
Frida loved NYC. She didn’t love being in Detroit, but she did love NY.
Frida was proud of her Mexican heritage.
The colors she wore, her outfits, her colorful art, it’s all a celebration of her Mexican heritage.
Frida is an inspiration. She inspires women to be artists, she inspires disabled people to know that they can do what they set their minds to, that a disability was not the end of her life, but gave her life.
Frida was a changemaker! She pushed boundaries, she was a visionary, she made the world fall in love with her art, with her and with Mexico.
Frida will live forever.
The exhibit “Las Apariencias Engañan/ Appearances Can Be Deceiving” was curated by Circe Henestrosa and is on display until May 12 2019 at the Brooklyn Museum, so make sure to check it out!
