Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving
(I don’t have selfie, but I do have a picture of ticket.)
<Part 1>
Independent research for three artifacts. (link below)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/fashion/frida-kahlo-museum-london.html
Artifact 1:
- Designer/Creator: N/A
- Name of Artifact: Lace Headdress and Skirt
- Origin(where was it made?): Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Season/Year: before 1954
- Function: For church, weddings, and processions
- Fabrication: Machine-made lace, cotton, and ribbon
- Form: Headdress and skirt (worn on whole body, covering head to ankle)
This artifact was the first one that grabbed my full attention in the very beginning of an exhibition. I personally really liked the dress because of its bright and lovely pink color. By looking at this dress, it immediately remind me of a wedding dress. Not only the color but also its classy lace reminds me of a wedding. Moreover, I was kind of surprised when I noticed that Frida actually wore this dress for a formal events such as church, weddings, and processions. During an independent research, I found an article about Frida Kahlo’s exhibition. According to the article from New York Times, Frida Kahlo had polio at a age of 6 which means her right leg was shorter than her left. This is why her clothes in the exhibition, including this artifact, were all long dresses that cover a leg: dress became a way to conceal her disability. I would probably say that this dress can transform notions of beauty in our contemporary time because these days people wear very short skirts which will be very different notion at Frida’s period. Since I know her behind story of health disability, this item well expresses her personal life. However, pretend without knowing her behind story, I would probably assume that her life is filled with many formal events.
Artifact 2:
- Designer/Creator: N/A
- Name of Artifact: Blouse
- Origin(where was it made?): San Gabriel Chilac, Puebla, Mexico
- Season/Year: before 1941
- Function: Regular days
- Fabrication: Cotton and glass beads
- Form: Short sleeve blouse (worn on upper part of body)
When I first saw this clothes, I thought it was one-piece dress. But, after reading description on the bottom, I realized that it is actually a two-piece: a blouse and a skirt. I chose this blouse as my second artifact because the pattern really grabbed my attention. Before reading New York Times article, I didn’t expect any behind stories from the blouse. However, article mentioned about her own interpretation of traditional Tehuana dress which includes full skirts, embroidered blouses, and regal coiffure associated with a matriarchal society from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico. Moreover, the purpose of blouse was not only to assert her national identity but also to effectively conceal her body and focus attention on her head and shoulders. These blouses were made without fastenings and could drop loosely over a back brace or plaster cast. Therefore, the article gave me great information about purpose and need of blouses to Frida Kahlo.
Artifact 3:
- Designer/Creator: N/A
- Name of Artifact: Prosthetic Leg with Lace-Up Boot
- Origin(where was it made?): N/A
- Season/Year: 1953-54
- Function: Regular days
- Fabrication: Leather, embroidered silk, ribbon, and metal
- Form: Shoes (boots that covers until knee part)
I immediately thought this is a fantastic artifact that covers Frida Kahlo’s physical disabilities. I would never understand or feel her pain of having polio, but by looking at this artifact, I was at least able to thought about her hardships for concealing her health problems. I am not sure what kind of event or activity Kahlo wore this boot, but I think she probably wore it on regular days. Even though this boot had to deal with her illness, I think it is surprising that the boot contains both function and style. This explains her creative and joyful approach to her life.
<Part 2>
a. Fashion object: Lace Headdress and Skirt
- Date: before 1954
- Creator: N/A
- Material: lace, cotton, ribbon
b. Art Object: Frida Kahlo (Self-Portrait as a Tehuana)
- Date: 1943
- Artist: Frida Kahlo
- Medium: Oil on hardboard
First, I chose same fashion object as part 1 because this “Lace Headdress and Skirt” was one of the artifact that grabbed my attention due to its lovely color. Both fashion object and art object are related each other because in the painting, Frida is wearing a very similar clothes to the fashion object that I chose.
<Reflection>
I love paintings and I love Frida Kahlo’s artworks. Even though I was interested in her paintings, I never had a chance to search about her life, style, or background. This is why I was more excited about going Frida Kahlo’s exhibition. More fascinating part of this exhibition is that it includes drawings and paintings, as well as choice items from Frida Kahlo’s wardrobe that tells a real story behind her look. Before going exhibition, we had some time to learn about Frida Kahlo’s background in Int Seminar 2 class and this actually allowed me to look exhibition in more dynamic perspective by applying her situation. Knowing her physical disabilities, I was able to understand and interpret the exhibition. I learned how artist’s appearance can have deeper meaning inside with their own problems and how styling could conceal individual’s sufferings.
