Above: Preparatory sketch for uncompleted painting 'La Libertad' 1946.
Some works from Frida Khalo 'Making her self up', show a timely convergence of history in terms of Mexico's relationship with its neighbour America.
Above in the sketch of the Statue of Liberty is scathing of the power wielded by the USA after the second world war. The statue is a prison of oppressed masses, with Liberty's torch replaced by a bag of money and atomic bomb, while she is adorned with a necklace of dead.
Below, Frida portrays herself on a pedestal as 'Carmen Rivera' wearing a pink dress and coral necklace, with lace gloves symbolising Mexico's colonial heritage, whilst dividing a picture of two halves; Americas brutal industrial north and Mexico's crumbling south, one empire lost, one in full post war strength.
The exhibition has been criticised for not having enough of Frida's art works, but it is difficult to accumulate so many works in one exhibition of this popular artist from the worlds collections and this is not what the purpose of the exhibition is. The works that had been secured, 12 paintings in all and some very insightful sketches were perfect, a mirror to the ephemera of her life, her talismans and symbolic heritage of clothing and jewellery that was her self portrait, her commentary on life, love and politics. It is a wonderful exhibition and I am very fortunate to have been able to see it.
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