Exercise: Annotate a self-portrait

Transcription

1 Exercise: Annotate a self-portrait For this task I have decided to annotate a self-portrait by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as her life and art are a huge source of inspiration to me. She is remembered for: her refusal to let great physical suffering crush her spirit or interfere with her art and her left-wing political activities (Chilvers, 2009). The painting I have selected for further study is entitled: Henry Ford Hospital (The Flying Bed), The image intrigues me as it is a rare example of a representation of the artist in the process of having a miscarriage. The subject matter of this self-portrait might seem like a strange choice; however I wanted to explore an image which was authentic and true to the artist s aims and objectives. I hugely admire Kahlo s oeuvre because as an artist she never shies away from the depiction of real-life events that some may find difficult or disturbing. Kahlo s story is one of strength and determination against all of the odds, from the horrific accident she was involved in as a teenager, to the miscarriages and abortions that she experienced later on as result of her earlier injuries. Her portraits are always candid and heartfelt and present a tangible reality, which I find far more interesting and inspiring than a self-portrait produced merely as an exercise in vanity. To provide some context, the painting was created at the time of her miscarriage in 1932, whilst she was living in the USA with her husband Diego Rivera. 1

2 Henry Ford Hospital (The Flying Bed), 1932, by Frida Kahlo A brief explanation of the visual clues employed by Frida Kahlo in this ex-voto inspired image: The tableau Kahlo depicts herself lying nude in a pool of blood, surrounded by objects which represent her emotions at the time of the miscarriage. The male foetus represents the much-longed for baby that she has lost, the wilting flower signals her despair, whilst the pelvis serves as a reminder of the horrific accident in 1925 that disabled her for the rest of her life. The Pelvis The image of the pelvis is also significant as it is a reminder of death and its omnipresence in Mexican culture. Frida herself was always conscious of chasing death due to her many operations (at least 22 in total over the course of her life). The Pelvis is also a symbol for its role as the cradle of life within a woman s body. The red ribbons The red ribbons mimic the veins and serve to connect all of the votive symbols together. In Frida s eyes the body of the female can grow life, but it can also take it too. Figure 1 Henry Ford Hospital (The Flying Bed), 1932, Frida Kahlo. The new race of the steel age The industrial landscape in the background is a reference to Diego and his desire to be a part of the machine age and the spirit of industrialisation that was taking place in the USA at the time. It was in stark contrast to the life that Frida and Diego led in Mexico. (Burrus, 2008) 2 Context Frida created the painting during her stay in Detroit with her husband Diego Rivera. Rivera was working on an important commission for the Detroit Institute for the Arts and was unaware of her pregnancy. The foetus The foetus also represents Diego s childlike need for her and her desperation to have a baby of her own. The barren and empty landscape The emptiness of the landscape around her signifies her fear of becoming barrenunable to bring a child into the world. In Mexican culture the female figure encapsulates the idea of the mother goddess, of fertility and abundance.

3 Describing the artwork and relating it to the work of other artists If I could describe the image in a few words it would be: painful, tortuous, dignified and reassuring. I was first attracted to this work as I was curious about the composition and I wanted to learn more about the artist and her story. I had never seen an image that presented something as painful or traumatic as a miscarriage in such a light hearted manner before. My interest is heightened by the intriguing anatomical accuracy of the bones and the foetus which surround her. It seems to me that although she is picturing a horrifying and difficult scene, she seems to be making light of it. She clutches the red ribbon of hope with her distended abdomen and gathers all of the objects around her as she clings desperately to life. Furthermore, the entities seem to stem from within her like the leaves bursting from a tree. In my opinion, she is essentially celebrating the fecundity of nature. The art work makes me feel oddly reassured as miscarriages do happen and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It seems to me that it doesn t make you less of a person it is simply that it wasn t the right time. I feel that Kahlo s interpretation humanises the experience and soothes the viewer, as she seems to be communicating that one mustn t worry about these things, as that is life. It is a gift to bring a life into the world but it can just as easily be extinguished. Such is the brevity of life. This piece in particular reminds me of the art of Tracy Emin, as Tracy has wrestled with similar themes in her art. Emin is controversial for her unflinching appraisal of abortions in her art, which some individuals such as (Pro-Life campaigners) find difficult to accept. Also Emin s primary subject matter is herself so there are distinct parallels in both artists work. Emin however does not use the painted self-portrait as a mechanism for expressing herself, as she prefers to utilise modern types of media such as video art, etchings, neon and textiles to reflect her most intimate thoughts and feelings. In contrast, Emin s work veers towards the confessional rather than devotional. In my view Kahlo s work also shares parallels with the art of Paula Rego, as Rego has used her art as a vehicle through which to expose the risks of women having back-street abortions in Portugal. Paula also utilises her art to champion the rights of women and children. Her style is also very candid and direct, and possesses a lively and theatrical spirit which reminds me of Kahlo s playfulness and sincerity. 3

4 A brief analysis of the composition My eyes are drawn first to the rosy coloured foetus which hovers prophet like over the body of the artist. All of the different objects have been gathered around the artist in a formation which mimics the circle of life. The different entities which surround her might also be a metaphor for the alienation she experienced whilst she lived in the USA, as her family members and friends were at home in Mexico and were unable to visit her. Some of the edges of the shapes are more clearly defined than others, which leads me to the conclusion that some elements of the tableau are more important than others. For instance, the foetus, the pelvis and the flying bed stand out more than the figure of the artist as the emphasis is on the little sketches as they help to explain her current state of mind. Also, the objects in the foreground are more prominent as the lines are darker and more intense than those in the background. This causes the background to recede and the foreground to rise towards the spectator. The contrast between the values is not huge but it is enough to allow the background to recede and the patient and her hospital bed to come to the fore. The complimentary colours of the pale sky-blue and the salmon pink body parts have been used to provide balance and warmth in the painting. The amber coloured earth tones generate a sense of warmth and reinforce the mother goddess vibe. On the whole, the image is painted delicately with oil paint on metal in the style of a Mexican retablo or ex-voto. Ex-votos are devotional paintings on canvas or tin which offer thanks to a particular saint in the form of a short narrative. In many events, a small child becomes ill, a soldier returns safely from war, or a favorite animal finally wanders home. The petitioner, grateful for this miracle, dedicates a small painting (with a short testimonial) to the respective patron Saint. (Colonial Arts, n.d). There isn t any information to indicate that Kahlo dedicated this work to a particular saint, however I believe that she might have dedicated it to her unborn children. As she describes in her diary in 1932 how important art was in her life: My painting carries within it the message of pain.painting completed my life. I lost three children Paintings substituted for all of this. I believe that work is the best thing. (Burrus, 2008). I think this image was created slowly whilst Kahlo healed in hospital, as a devotional portrait to be displayed in the privacy of her home. Her work differs from her husband s both in terms of its scale and genre. Frida followed in the footsteps of the grand tradition of Mexican folklore and created works which were to be enjoyed in the comfort of her own home, whereas Diego sought to create monumental public works on a massive scale. 4

5 Evaluation Finally, if I was to classify this work I would suggest that it is an example of a devotional work in the Mexican tradition which explores distinctly modern themes. Kahlo is certainly recognisable as the patient in the hospital bed as her features are highly distinctive, due to her exotic colouring. The work is realistic due to the anatomical accuracy of some of the elements, but it retains the naïve qualities that are unique to Kahlo. The painting tells a story which is sad but is one that most people can understand and empathise with. Kahlo s work shares parallels with the artists Tracy Emin and Paula Rego as all of the artists explore women s issues in a direct and candid manner. All of their work is sincere and honest and completely lacks any sense of vanity, which is why I find their art so refreshing. Kahlo s ex-voto art work depicts the brevity of human existence and the importance of making the most of the time that we have, however brief it might be. The artist regards us gravely whilst clinging to life and hope. In my opinion the artwork is hugely successful as it encourages a dialogue with the viewer. It also serves a reminder of the fact that the world might alter and become increasingly industrialised but the process of pregnancy is still as relevant as ever and is centuries old. I think overall the piece is a tribute to the inherent strength and courage of womankind in general and the gift of life itself. References Abbot Hall Art Gallery. (2001) Paula Rego Celestina s House. Kendal, Abbot Hall Art Gallery. Burrus, C. (2008) Frida Kahlo: I paint my reality. Trans. Sharman, R. London, Thames and Hudson Ltd. Chilvers, I (2009) Dictionary of Art & Artists. Fourth Edition. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 5

6 Colonial Arts. (n.d) Mexican Retablo Art. Available from: [Accessed 30th December 2015] McEwen, J. (2006) Paula Rego. London, Phaidon Press Limited. Merck, M., Townsend, C. (eds.) (2002) The Art of Tracy Emin. London, Thames and Hudson Ltd. Wood, G. (2011) Colourful calamity: Mexican votive art. Available from: [Accessed 30th December 2015] 6