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31/1/2015

Frida Kahlo

MARTa Herford Museum of Art and Design, Herford

Marta Herford begins the exhibition season 2015 with the extraordinary exhibition project "Frida Kahlo – the photos". In cabinets reminiscent of the colours in Kahlo's paintings, more than 60 years after the death of the Mexican artist (1907–1954) the museum is showing a selec- tion from her extensive photo archive which was presented to the public for the first time in 2007. In her treasure trove of pictures Frida collected photos of friends, of her family, of Diego Rivera, but also of herself taken by unknown photographers. The first presentation of her col- lection in Germany comprises 241 photographs put together by Pablo Ortiz Monasterio for the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico. In six central theme areas ranging from the origins to the blue house, her damaged body, her loved ones, right up to politics, revolution and Diego, the exhibi- tion illuminates the important role that the photographic image played in the life of the painter Frida Kahlo.

The medium of photography took on a special significance from an early age for the daughter of a German—Hungarian professional photographer who emigrated from Germany to Mexico at the age of 18. The numerous portraits that Guillermo Kahlo made of his daughter display not only her self-confident manner in front of the camera but also left Frida with a deep conscious- ness of the graphic power of self-staging. Works by famous photographers such as Man Ray Martin Munkácsi, Brassaï, Tina Modotti, Lola and Manual Álvarez Bravo as well as Edward Wes- ton are mixed with pictures of writers or artists who were her friends or who she admired.

The life and work of Frida Kahlo are inextricably interwoven with each other, which is also re- flected in her photo collection. Her damaged body, her pain and suffering, but also her loves, are recurrent themes in the photographs. Nickolas Muray, with whom she also had a relation- ship, shows her in very intimate and vulnerable poses. Other photos are evidence of how her body was increasingly scarred by illness. This image is interrupted by pictures showing her in the company of her friends, relaxing or partying – happy scenes that express her joie de vivre. It is also remarkable how she treated the photographs: for the artist they were treasured and fa- miliar objects which she coloured and cut, marking them with thoughts and notes, and some- times even with kisses.

Another room is dedicated to the subject of politics, revolution and Diego. The pictures make the political atmosphere of the times palpable. The documentations of industrial buildings such as the Ford works in Detroit are juxtaposed with the leaders of Russian socialism, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin. Many of the photos also show the Mexican artist Diego Rivera to whom Frida was married from 1929 and who remained a focal point of her romantic and emotional life.

Image: Exhibition poster

Press Contact:
Sarah Niesel T: +49 (0) 52 21/994430 -27 fax: +49 (0) 5221-994430-18 presse@marta-herford.de

Marta Herford
Goebenstraße 4–10, 32052 Herford
Opening Hours:
Tue–Sun and on bank holidays 11 am – 6 pm
1st Wednesday of every month 11 am – 9 pm

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