Frida Kahlo

Mexican born artist, Frida Kahlo, inspired me by her art and life events. Her art is influenced by Aztec culture such as in the top picture o the self portrait. The portrait shows a monkey on her right shoulder and what looks like a black panther next to her left shoulder; both animals are symbols of Aztec culture. The monkey was used by Aztecs as a symbol of lust which I believed Frida was able to relate to by her sexual preference. Frida was bisexual, which her famous artist husband, Diego Rivera, approved of Frida having sexual relationship with woman, but disapproved of Frida sleeping with men. The top picture also demonstrates how Frida was interested in painting self portraits, she once said "I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best." Most of her art work revolved around her personal life events. The bottom pictures shows; Frida Kahlo in a bed full of blood. She has multiple umbilical cords extending to different objects. The objects that are being wrapped by the umbilical cord demonstrate her suffering and desires from her point of view. The woman laying in the bed looks like Frida Kahlo, the blood is showing her inability to have a baby. The baby that the cord is extending to is her desire of an offspring. During Fridas’ teenage years, she had a traffic accident that led to many health problems and the inability to conceive. Her art is very emotional and that is what mostly interested me. Her artwork is culturally influenced, more than anything by the Aztec culture; she uses many of the Aztec symbols and animals which is clearly evident from her art. For Fridas artwork it is important that we remain open-minded to culture and very observant to better understand Fridas Art and life.