Sunday, December 2, 2018

Frida Kahlo Museum, CDMX

When you are walking along Calle Londres searching for the Frida Kahlo Museum,  you will know that you've arrived when you get to this deep blue building at Calle Ignacio Allende.
They don't call it the Casa Azul for nothing, m'dears.
It will probably be surrounded by a line-up of visitors as well. Only a limited number of visitors can enter at one time.
We really had no clear idea of what to expect when we entered after a half hour wait.
The first rooms are galleries of Kahlo and Diego Rivera's early works and private collection. Here is Kahlo's Self-portrait, Detroit (unfinished), 1932
and her Frida and the Cesarian (unfinished), 1931.
There's a quiet charm to her early Portrait of a Young Girl (unfinished)
but the ravishing El marxismo dara la salud a los enfermos, ca 1954 with Karl Marx reaching out for her shows Kahlo at her surreal best!
The rest of the house contains the rooms where Frida and Diego lived with their collection of Mexican art like these 19th century portraits and preserved sea turtle in a sunken sitting room.
We loved the bright kitchen with the ceramic cookware and bright colours.
Here is Diego's worktable
and Frida's wheelchair, worktable and easel, in their light-filled studio. Fun to think of them working side by side.
Ever the librarian, John was curious about the books in their private library..
I loved this folk candelabra. Imagine it with lit candles.
Frida's death mask lies on her single bed. Note the mirror installed in the canopy of her four-poster.
John wondered if the books on the small shelf by her bed were for reading or whether they were sentimental favourites which she liked to have near.
Nice corner with a gramophone and a mid-century lamp.
Their ceramic collection was simply superb.
Great drawing!
Outside the house in the large inner courtyard there was a Day of the Dead altar
with a skeletal angelic musician
and a dapper skeletal couple..
The courtyard garden is quiet, exotic
and colourful.
Go early to visit Casa Azul -- Frida is an international star now and all visitors to Mexico City seem to want to see her family home.

1 comment:

  1. Frida's imagery so reflects her life, so interesting.

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