As bright stars, burning, leave an eternal mark in the Universe, so a woman named Frida Kahlo left an eternal memory of herself in the hearts of all Mexicans, like an enchanting comet that flashed through the firmament of life. Her romantic image embodied the rebellion and vitality of distant Indian ancestors, Mexican passion and temperament, the sparkling talent of an artist with an extraordinary look. Her whole short stormy life is a clear confirmation that an elated soul is stronger than physical ailments and suffering. Today we will tell you about the biography of this unique personality, through what sufferings she went and how she discovered the gift in herself, how she found love and almost paid for her passion. We will also tell you about the house-museum of Frida Kahlo in Mexico City.
Before we talk about Frida's house-museum, I would like to tell the life story of this strong woman so that you can fully appreciate the value and significance of the museum.
Frida's biography
Looking at the portrait of a burning beauty, radiating feminine charm, charming spirituality, you will never believe that its owner was essentially a disabled person, severely crippled by an illness and, in addition, a road accident. At the age of 6, the girl was struck by poliomyelitis, which made her "lame", and at 17 she had to ride in a bus that collided with a tram. The injuries sustained by the girl in this accident did not give her a chance to survive: numerous fractures of the ribs, spine, collarbone, legs (in 11 places!), Abdominal puncture - is that compatible with life ?! But, apparently, God's providence allowed the unfortunate woman to survive in order to later become an unbending symbol of Mexico and a brilliant artistic creator, whose canvases shake everyone with their pictorial power.
A year of torment and struggle for survival made a staunch tin soldier out of a fragile, tormented girl, and some insight from above awakened her talent as an artist. While still bedridden, she felt the urge to pick up a brush and paints that her parents, at her request, brought to the hospital ward. To make it easier for her to draw, the father designed a kind of easel for his beloved daughter, which allowed her to paint pictures while lying down. In the mirror hung over the bed, Frida saw her reflection, and self-portraits became the first and favorite subjects of the image in the future.
Frida's paintings, brought for viewing, impressed the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera so much that he immediately became interested in the girl and soon became her husband. Despite his by no means attractive appearance, the huge fat man Diego knew how to charm women, so Frida also could not resist and agreed to a marriage that could not be called happy. He managed to infect her with communist ideas, embodied by a talented artist in vivid works dedicated to the leaders of communism and the author's figurative ideas about the bright era created by a bold imagination. On one of the canvases, she depicted herself next to one of her idols - Stalin.
By chance, Frida became acquainted with the theorist of the world revolution - Leon Trotsky. Being to some extent kindred spirits, they flared up with passion for each other, but the stormy feeling did not last long: reason prevailed, and the love affair stopped. The world did not immediately appreciate the artistic masterpieces of the talented Mexican woman with an unusual fate: only in 1939, 14 years after the beginning of her creative biography, Frida's paintings shocked visitors to the Mexican art exhibition organized in Paris. One of her works was honored to be housed in the Louvre.
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The last years of her short life, the artist did not get out of bed, on which she was brought to the first author's personal exhibition. The agonizing suffering inflicted on her by the hellish pain of mutilated organs forced her to take potent medicines, which further ruin her health. The physical existence of the divinely gifted Frida ended on 13 07 1954, and the spiritual life of an extraordinary, unyielding personality and a courageous, beautiful woman has been going on for many years.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Everything connected with her name is contained in the Frida Kahlo Museum, located in the "blue house" where she was born and lived all the years.
The house-museum became especially popular after the screening of the brilliant film Frida (filmed in this house), which premiered in 2002 and aroused unprecedented interest in her personality and art. To the house, painted with bright blue paint, “the folk path” of tourists wishing to see expressive masterpieces painted “with the blood of the heart” is not overgrown.
Entering the courtyard of the museum, you immediately begin to feel how sacredly Mexicans honor the memory of their compatriot Frida and her life partner Diego Rivera - two great artists of Mexico. The entire area of the courtyard is perfectly painted; in the middle, on a round island of earth, tree trunks symbolically stretch towards the sun, under which the greenery of luxurious floral plants riots. The wall is crowned with an inscription, edged with a massive wooden frame, testifying to the life of Frida and Diego here in 1929-1954.
Museum address and how to get there yourself
This address in Mexico City - Londres, 247 - is well known not only by locals, but also by many fans of the artist's work around the world. You can get there by subway line 3, getting off at Coyocan or Viveros stations, and walk from them (the journey will take 15-20 minutes) or take any bus going along the street. Londres. The museum welcomes guests from Thursday to Sunday, from 10.00 to 17.45, on Wednesday - from 11.00 to 17.45. Entrance tickets on weekdays cost 120 pesos, on weekends - 140 pesos.
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Frida Kahlo's paintings and symbols of the life of this creative couple
All the exhibits of the museum as a whole chronologically illustrate the lifestyle, work, leisure and hobbies of the illustrious couple. A variety of personal items are presented here: clothes, souvenirs, jewelry, photo albums, books, letters. Along with this, there are antique items of Mexican life of the 17-18 centuries and samples of works of "pre-Columbian" art.
In the working bedroom of Frida, against the background of a barred window, there is a portrait of her husband and an eternal enemy. The huge easel in the center is filled with brushes and tassels - the main tools of the artist's labor. Frida's wheelchair leaned against him with its wheels; on the desktop, as in life, a sketch board with an ink set and a pen; sets of paints and other small items.
In Diego Rivera's modest, almost ascetic bedroom, there are paintings on the walls. All the few furniture are examples of applied wooden art: an armchair and a bed of an unusual configuration and design; laconic bookcase in the corner; carved sculptures on tables. On a hook against the wall hang the artist's overalls and his favorite hats.
Particularly impressive is the study, which can be called the artist's mini-workshop, where the flashy plots of her paintings emerged from under the brilliant brush. All flooded with daylight, he (the study) is the personification of her main life line - artistic creativity, to which all the objects in it are subordinated. An easel with a cheerful still life of bright colors placed on it; a wheelchair in front of him; a huge number of tubes and jars of paints on the table; mirror, thanks to which the formation of the artist began
Exhibition of works by Frida Kahlo at the Faberge Museum
On February 3, 2016, the first in the history of St. Petersburg opened an exhibition of works by an ambiguous master of painting, whose work was based on personal life experiences and impressions, a range of family problems and the fight against diseases. Visiting the exhibition has age restrictions: from 18 years old and older, because some heartbreaking paintings can only be perceived by more mature people. Mental and physical pain, excruciating torment of Frida, difficult relationship with her husband, expressed in her paintings, produce a strong emotional and psychological impact.
A naked female body, dotted with traces of knife cuts and next to it a man holding a dagger in his hand - the painting "Just a few scratches" - the embodiment of family relations between two creative personalities. A canvas depicting a woman bleeding, pouring from a torn woman's womb onto a bloody bed is amazing. Plots about unborn children respond with pain in the heart - the cry of Frida's soul (her 3 miscarriages). Even if you do not know anything about the artist's life, you can read about all the misfortunes that fell on a fragile woman from her canvases.
But among her paintings there are truly life-affirming, light canvases of a full-fledged woman who is able to love deeply and passionately, enjoy every day, breathe deeply. The painting "Portrait of Dona Rosita Morillo" is one of the best works, according to Frida herself, full of peace of mind and peace. Some self-portraits evoke admiration for the beauty and spiritual optimism expressed in Frida's beautiful eyes.
The exhibition is held at the address: St. Petersburg, Fontanka Embankment, 21 (Shuvalov Palace) will be held until April 30 from 10.00 to 20.45 every day, except Friday. Tickets are sold at the ticket office of the museum on the day of the visit and cost 450 rubles. There are no and cannot be indifferent to it: the artistic evidence of the life of a talented Mexican self-taught artist will stir up feelings and emotions.
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