The loves and torments, the unbridled creativity and the sentiments concealed in the darkest corners of her hermetic obsessions, seeping out onto her canvases, her letters, in the photos of an icon of international art going by the name of Frida. At the Fabbrica del Vapore, Il Caos Dentro, a stunning interactive photographic itinerary details the dramatic existence of the Mexican artist. Visiting the important places of her life - from her home in Mexico City to the intimacy of her bedroom, from her studio built in 1946, to the garden of Casa Azul - the spectator enters into Frida’s relationship with her husband, artist Diego Rivera, to retrace, through the photos of Leo Matiz, the intimate personal story of the painter, beyond the mere pop legend. Conceived as a sort of journalistic narrative, its high-points coincide with the most significant events in the life of the artist, where her health issues intertwine with her social and political passions, as well as her love life, the exhibition winding through a complex universe comprised of ecstasy and pain. The atelier is particularly enthralling, illuminated by natural light, with its furnishings, pigments in glass bottles and palettes covered in paint, but also Frida’s wheelchair, right next to her easel. Then there’s the section dedicated to Diego, where the visitor can find the evocative letters written by the artist to her husband and the room dedicated to the the culture and popular art of Mexico which had so much influence on Kahlo. There are also some colourful examples of necklaces, rings, earrings, wide skirts and extravagant hats that belonged to the celebrated art icon.
From Paris to Milan, 50 Masterpieces from the Fondation Cartier at the Triennale
David Lynch, Francesca Woodman, Cai Guo-Qiang, David Hammons, Patti Smith and Agnes Varda are just some of the artists on display in this remarkable exhibition curated by Argentinian painter Guillermo Kuitca.
