200 words & video: on Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at IMMA
Posted on | April 28, 2011 | 3 Comments
Self-Portrait as Tehuana/Diego On My Mind, 1943 by Frida Kahlo
Although this superb exhibition celebrates Mexico’s most famous artist-couple, it is the iconic figure of Frida Kahlo that has been drawing the crowds to IMMA. Rivera painted murals in New York during his lifetime, but Kahlo has had a more long-term international impact. It’s not hard to see why.
His 1943 portrait of collector Natasha Gelman relies on slightly cheesy symbolism to transform the woman into a human calla lily; Kahlo’s 1943 Gelman is a real woman, her hard stare framed by a fur stole and elaborate hairdo. Rivera made Gelman into a pleasing object; Kahlo gave her an inner life. It is the same honesty she brings to her infamous self-portraits, six of which are on show, including her 1943 Self-Portrait as Tehuana/Diego on My Mind (above), and the early Self Portrait with Necklace (1933).
Photographs of Kahlo in various traditional costumes, by her one-time lover Nickolas Muray, as well as Japanese contemporary artist Yasumasa Morimura’s 2001 Kahlo-homage video, Dialogue with Myself (Encounter), all add to the myth, but her own carefully composed self-portraits are the artists’s true legacy. Kahlo was a performance artist before the term existed, and time hasn’t faded her ability to deliver a visual and emotional punch without moving a muscle.
VIDEO: You can see me talking about this exhibition on RTE Television’s The View programme, along with writer Declan Hughes and comedian Kevin Gildea here. The other items discussed are Ed O’Loughlin’s novel Toploader and the films Meek’s Cutoff and Little White Lies.
INFO: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera – Masterpieces of the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection is at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, until 26 June 2011. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5.30pm (Wed 10.30am), Sundays and Bank Holidays 12-5.30pm. Closed Mondays. Admission €5/ €3, students/u18s free, free for all on Fridays.
EDIT 17 June 2011: In light of the comments below I thought it would be a good idea to post images of both Gelman portraits. So here they are (the show runs until 26 June 2011):
Portrait of Natasha Gelman by Diego Rivera
Portrait of Natasha Gelman by Frida Kahlo
Tags: Diego Rivera > Frida Kahlo > IMMA > Irish Museum of Modern Art > Jacques Gelman > Natasha Gelman
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3 Responses to “200 words & video: on Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at IMMA”
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May 14th, 2011 @ 8:33 am
I’m not sure if “cheesy” is the word for the Natasha Gelman portrait by Rivera, as it sounds rather dismissive. In fact there is much more to this portrait, for instance how he depicted those lethal and predatory looking long sharp pointed bright red fingernails, the seductress pose, etc. in how he is relating to and presenting her as a woman. etc.
May 14th, 2011 @ 8:35 am
PS Especially pertinent is the relationship between Rivera and Kahlo, both life and art, in this exhibit and their art, the portraits of Natasha Gelman are a fantastic starting point and opportunity to highlight this.
June 17th, 2011 @ 8:41 am
Hi LKenney,
Thanks for your comments and I apologise for the delay in getting back to you.
I described the symbolism in the painting as “slightly cheesy”, and I do there’s a difference between that and describing the entire painting as “Cheesy”. Perhaps I should have added, “to a contemporary eye”. Certainly, to describe the entire painting as “cheesy” would be somewhat dismissive.
Both portraits are striking and worth spending time with. In my opinion, Kahlo’s is the stronger. I agree with you that the opportunity to consider them together is a valuable one and it is just one of the reasons why the IMMA show is important.
Regards,
Cristín