Finding strength in Frida Kahlo
I love reading biographies. It opens up a new perspective about someone, makes you see the human underneath the perfect persona with all the layers and edges makes you relate to the person; somewhat unexpectedly. While I knew about Frida Kahlo and her contribution in art, I barely knew her about her personal life and was amazed to read what an accomplished painter like her had to go through.
Born in Mexico City in the year 1907 she was known for her unique style of painting with vibrant colors and themes which were influenced by Mexican and European cultures. About one-third of her paintings were self-portraits and through her beautiful paintings, Frida reaped a sum greater than any of her fellow female artists at that time. Despite the name and fame, Frida deeply struggled in her personal life but attested her strength through perseverance, self-expression and art:
Frida refused her disability to define herself as a person
Frida suffered a polio attack at the age of six and also had a major bus accident when she was 18 which led to multiple spine surgeries and required her to wear plaster corsets at all time. Her one-year hospital stay could not stop Frida from continuing her painting which she did with the help of her parents. They gave her paint and a specially-designed easel that enabled her to paint while she lied in her bed. She was later crippled and in chronic pain the rest of her life. But instead of crumbling down under the weight of an ailing body she ferociously achieved her best and outshone others in the art world to be known only for her astonishing paintings rather than her disability.
Embraced her physical seemingly imperfect features
Female beauty and feminine features were and still is associated with having zero facial hair and meeting certain beauty standards, even if achieved artificially. Although at times doubting her choice, being only human, Frida did not shy away from embracing her own natural features and proudly flaunting her unibrow and moustache, commonly seen as major flaws in a woman’s beauty. Her iconic looks with an impressive decorated hairdo and her unique and original facial features were unapologetically highlighted in her self-portraits symbolizing liberty and confidence.
Endured a broken heart caused by her husband’s multiple affairs
Frida married Diego Rivera, a well-known muralist at that time, whom she loved deeply and was very proud of. But her marriage with Diego was an imperfect one. One of the main reasons was Diego’s multiple infidelities that caused her an insurmountable heartache on top of her abortion and miscarriage. Instead of being overwhelmed by the pain and putting a brake on her work, she poured her heart in her paintings and produced famous pieces such as the The Two Fridas where one of the two Fridas tries to stop her heart bleeding by pressing an artery with a pair of forceps. Frida turned her pain into art and found a way to immortalize herself in the hearts of millions.
From facing physical disability, marital problems to embracing her unconventional features, Frida Kahlo saw it all. But how she endured, coped with and steered through them by keeping her unending lust for life alive is both an inspiration and a testament for all those who suffer silently.
