A singular experience.

I know that I said I'd return to pictures from the South Island this week, but changed my mind.  I hope that you enjoy this one.   

A singular experience presented itself to me recently. 

Imagine if you had long admired a painter, or a  singer, band, filmmaker, orchestra, Broadway play, etc., and you were then suddenly able to attend an event which featured said painter, etc. I think you'd be delighted, right?   

This morning, December 19, 2022, that's just what happened to me.  

I went to the Auckland Art Museum and toured a visiting exhibit of Frida Kahlo's paintings. I have been a fan of her work for many years.  

She is a Mexican painter who lived from 1907 to 1954. Now, if I were to try to describe her style of painting to you, I'd have to learn whatever I told you from Wikipedia or some other source.  I don't know much at all about painting, or styles or art history.  If I tried to fake it, I'd come across as pretentious.  Therefore, I have copied a link to the Wiki article about her and invite you to read about her there, if you're curious.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo

What I do know is that since I first saw her paintings, more than 30 years ago, I have liked them. 

I'd better quit talking and show you some of the photos I took at the museum.  I asked permission to take non-flash photographs and was immediately invited to 'help myself,' by one of the museum curators who was keeping her eye on the crowds attending the exhibit.  

(I had seen no one taking photos during my first half hour or so in the exhibit, so I asked.  After I started taking pictures, phones were coming out of pockets and purses all over the place. I think I performed a very useful service to the public.)

When Frida was 18, she was in a bus accident, was hospitalized for I think, most of a year, and spent the rest of her life battling pain.  

This is a picture of her in the hospital.  It was here that she started painting.  

I'm seated in the exhibit and looking around. There she is, in the distance. 

I think this one was called, Self-Portrait with Braid.  

The man's head you see there is Diego Rivera, himself a famous Mexican painter. They would marry, divorce and remarry.  

Self Portrait with Monkeys 

Of the paintings I saw here today, this is my favorite.  Although I like her surreal paintings very much, some of them are rather jarring, and I don't know that I'd want it on my wall, jarring me all the time. However, there is something satisfying about this still life, and there is still a feeling of Frida in it.    

I especially like its title. It's called, The Bride Who Becomes Frightened When She Sees Life Opened.  For me, that title adds enormous value to this painting.  

Frida and Diego

The following paintings are by Diego Rivera.  

I found this next painting on Wikipedia. It shows of course, Diego and Frida and was done by Frida in 1931. 

I read that her family was not happy about the marriage.  He was 20 years older and they described the marriage as 'between and elephant and a dove.'  

Let's end on a happier note.  

There was a time in my life when I was a young father and hadn't yet met Diego and Frida. However, I remember seeing a painting that looked very similar to this one ( I didn't know it back then) and featured some television performers who were very important to my young daughter at the time.  Take a look down below.

I also found this on Wikipedia.  I love parodies in all their forms.  

Well, that's it for today.  I hope that you've enjoyed seeing these pictures. I'm very glad the museum made them available for me (us) to see.  Well worth the price of admission. 

If you'd like to see many more of her paintings, just google 'Frida Kahlo paintings' and click on images.  You won't be sorry.   -djf