Discover the life and work of extraordinary Mexican artist and cultural icon, Frida Kahlo, at ArtScience Museum. The Frida Forever season, starting from 4 May 2024, is made up of two exhibitions – Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon and Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World, and a VR experience.
Frida Forever at ArtScience Museum
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is best known for her vibrant works of art. However, behind the brightly coloured art works is a story of facing down gender stereotypes, perseverance and even contradictions. Her works capture her personal experiences and reflect on her passions, struggles and beliefs.
To this day, her art continues to inspire. Chris Martin from Coldplay credits Kahlo for taking the band’s music in a new direction and it is no coincidence that Viva La Vida, one of the band’s most recognisable hits, is also the name of a Kahlo painting.
Frida mainly painted self-portraits, often using her own image as part of a discourse of womanhood, pain, death, the human body, and identity. Even though she never thought of herself as a surrealist, her works lend themselves to that genre.
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At the two exhibitions that make up Frida Forever at ArtScience Museum, you will be able to get to know the artist and connect with her and her artworks.
Here’s a bit more about the two exhibitions of ArtScience Museum’s Frida Forever:
- Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon is an immersive biographical exhibition that celebrates Frida’s life story through interactive installations, digital technologies, and 360-degree projections.
- Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World is a smaller, companion exhibition to Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon. It takes a more intimate look at the artist, revealing the way that Frida’s medical conditions shaped who she was.
Purchase Tickets for Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon
Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon
Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon is an immersive biographical exhibition. It is making its Southeast Asian premiere at ArtScience Museum. This is the 10th edition of the exhibition which has been making its way around the world.
The exhibition blends together historical photographs with original films, digital art and interactive installations.
There are eight spaces that will take visitors through significant moments of her life.
The Altar
Start off at The Altar and get to meet Frida Kahlo. This area is inspired by the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead and is seen as a way of remembering and celebrating the life of a departed one.
The Accident
A defining moment of Frida’s life was when the bus she was travelling in had an accident with a street car. Her horrific injuries would plague her for the rest of her life, but also set her on the path to becoming an artist.
The Garden of Love
Next, step into the Garden of Love which reflects what Frida held dear. You can also respond by penning down wishes on “flowers” and helping to plant them to make the garden bloom.
The Dream
After her accident, Frida spent much of her time confined to her bed. This was where many different influences and cares collided.
Endless Symbology
Frida Kahlo’s art is filled with symbology. In an interactive room. you can explore the world and symbols found in Frida’s art.
La Rosita
In her later years, Frida secured space at a bar called La Rosita for her art students to decorate and paint.
At the La Rosita space at Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon, you can also help to decorate the space with your own images of the artist.
Immersive Biography
This inspiring space features 360-degree projections and is a creative space that brings drawings to life.
Fashion Icon
Finally, learn more about Frida’s impact on the fashion world. Ironically, the bright colours and long dresses that she wore were to hide the scars from the accident.
Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon allows visitors to learn about her story and her life of perseverance, rebellion and talent. The exhibition is an immersive way to learn and gain an appreciation of the life an extraordinary woman.
Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon is on at ArtScience Museum from 4 May till 1 September 2024.
Purchase Tickets for Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon Here
Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World
The companion exhibition to Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon is Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World.
Curated by the team at ArtScience Museum along with Cristina Kahlo Alcalá, the great niece of Frida Kahlo, and Circe Henestrosa, the Laid Bare exhibition features close to 40 photographs, diary pages, contemporary artworks, and medical records.
It includes exclusive interviews with Cristina Kahlo Alcalá where she shares how she acquired Frida’s medical documents from the American British Cowdry Hospital where Frida Kahlo spent long periods of time.
These interviews will also reveal the person Frida was beyond the persona she became known for.
The exhibition provides a different perspective on the artist. It provides an intimate look into her medical history in order to present an intimate portrayal of her relationship with her body, her medical ailments, and the profound impact these struggles had on her artistic work.
Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World is on from 4 May to 1 September. Get more details about Laid Bare.
Exquisite Corpse VR Experience
In addition, the ArtScience Museum’s VR Gallery will feature Exquisite Corpse, a virtual reality experience based on the periods when Frida was confined to bed.
Produced by Layers of Reality, Exquisite Corpse allows visitors to enter Frida’s paintings.
This VR experience takes inspiration from Frida’s aesthetics, her vibrant colour palette, and the textures of her paintings.
It starts off from where Frida spent much of her time – her bed – viewers are transported into her room. From there, the journey extends beyond the walls of her room, seamlessly blending computer-generated imagery, 360-degree filming, and specially shot footage to immerse viewers in the dreamlike landscapes and defining elements of Frida’s work.
Flower Arch Installation by Lidia Riveros
Do also keep a look out for an ArtScience Museum commissioned work by Singapore-based Mexican artist and curator, Lidia Riveros.
Her flower arch installation at the basement symbolises a warm welcome to a home, with vibrant colours that reflect Frida Kahlo’s lively spirit and her deep connection to Mexican heritage.
Find out more about Frida Forever, Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon and Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World.
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Purchase Tickets for Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon
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