Sunday, November 14, 2010

Frida Kahlo Retrospective

The Bank Austria Kunstforum is currently presenting a Frida Kahlo retrospective in Vienna. Never before has so much of the Mexican artist's work been on display in Austria. So yesterday, I went with Claudia, Norbert and Pavel to go check it out.

Her art is sometimes described as Mexican kitsch but she is considered the most famous female artist of the first half of the 20th century. Although, she was often overshadowed by her husband, muralist Diego Rivera. Her work consists of 143 images and 55 of those are self-portraits.

She only gained limited acclaim during her life. She held exhibitions in New York and Paris. The only solo show of her work in Mexico was in 1953, the year before she died.

Claudia had already seen the exhibit in Berlin earlier this year. Since I wasn't able to go then I was glad it moved to Vienna. I enjoyed the art but I wasn't thrilled with the layout. I think they needed to hold it in a larger venue. It was a bit crowded and it could have flowed better. But good nonetheless.

Saturday was the first day of the Vienna Christmas Market so we hung out there for an hour before the 1.5 hour drive back to Brno. Famous art and a Christmas market...it doesn't get much better than this.

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