Frida Kahlo w/Olmec figurine, 1939/Photo Nickolas Muray©Nickolas Muray Photo Archive
Judith Schrut ignores the hype and embraces the huipil at the V&A’s newest exhibition.
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was one of the most recognised women artists of the twentieth century, not only for her colourful, characterful paintings but for a life passionately, stylishly and courageously lived.
With the opening of Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up, the V&A’s hugely anticipated, hot ticket of a show, you’ll have a unique chance to savour more than 200 of Frida’s paintings, photographs, clothing and personal possessions. Their fascinating back story is clearly part of the allure: most of these items have never been seen outside the Casa Azul (Blue House), the Mexico City home in which Frida was born, lived and died. They had been protectively stashed and sealed inside a bathroom by her husband, muralist and revolutionary Diego Rivera, and only revealed 50 years after her premature death.
Frida contracted polio as a child and at 18 suffered a devastating, near fatal bus crash which left her severely disabled and in pain for the rest of her life.But she was proudly defiant, utterly determined that her art and style, rather than any disability, would define her. Amongst the more extraordinary items on display are her spinal back braces and heavy medical corsets intricately handpainted with religious and revolutionary imagery and a prosthetic leg in a highly decorated boot. There’s a strong selection of her paintings as well as photos, letters and mementoes from family, friends and her many lovers (who famously included Leon Trotsky), signature hot red Revlon lipsticks, nail polish and black Ebony eyebrow pencil used to bring out her distinctive monobrow.
Photo Javier Hinojosa. Museo Frida Kahlo©Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo Archives
But for me the real showstopper is the central gallery filled with beautiful Mexican garments which Frida chose to wear with such pride and style: traditional rebozo shawls, long, flouncy skirts with lacy holanes, elaborate headdresses and voluptuously embroidered huipiles, square-cut tops covered in jewellery which Frida favoured, presumably because they were spacious enough to cover her shattered, corset-propped spine. So ignore the hype: go and see this unmissable show.
Self Portrait, Frida Kahlo, 1948, c Private Collection
Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up runs until 18 November 2018 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7, sponsored by Grosvenor Britain and Ireland. Free museum entry, exhibition tickets £13-16, advance booking essential, members and children under 12 free. Find out more at vam.ac.uk.
