Immersive Frida Kahlo is now open in Toronto, and features some of the artist’s best-known works brought to life by the world-renowned master of digital art, Italy’s Massimiliano Siccardi. He has once again worked with composer Luca Longobardi, who has created a resonant score to accompany the animated projections.

Famous paintings including The Two Fridas, The Wounded Deer, and Diego and I, all intermingle with an assortment of photographs, drawings and iconography, taking us ever closer to the heart of the mystery that was Frida Kahlo.  This special experience was created with the participation of the Fundación Familia Kahlo, run by Mara Kahlo, who manage the rights to Kahlo’s work and preserve her legacy.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

This is the third immersive experience Toronto has had the opportunity to see, after the success of Van Gogh, and Klimt, and it’s by far the best. The projected works of art come to life in such a dramatic fashion, with the accompaniment of a wonderful music soundtrack. The looped presentation is about 40-minutes long, and displayed across all four walls within the cavernous confines of the former Toronto Star building, allowing for excellent viewing from anywhere within. There’s also an elevated watch area, and a hidden mirrored mini-room that should not be missed for the selfie types. This is going to be the hit of the summer, and a great introduction to the fabulous women that Frida was. For those unaware of her work as an artist and her legacy as a humanitarian, read on below for some background information before making your way to this fantastic exhibition.

FRIDA: IMMERSIVE DREAM – 1 Yonge Street Toronto

Opens in Toronto March 31st . Tickets here.

Kahlo was born in 1907 in Mexico City, and died in 1954. After surviving polio at the age of six, Kahlo was involved in a horrific accident at the age of 18, when the bus she was riding on was struck by a streetcar, leaving her with a broken spinal column, along with a myriad of other injuries. Bedridden, Kahlo was encouraged by her parents to take up painting to pass the time. A custom-made easel allowed her to paint while lying down. During these long days, Kahlo often spent hour after hour staring at her own image that was reflected in a mirror fixed over her bed. It is here that she began presenting herself as the subject matter of her work, channelling her personal struggles into her art. Kahlo’s travels throughout Mexico and the United States further developed her artistic style.

Individualistic and rebellious, her spirit was torn between the Communist Party and the Mexican Nationalist movement. Despite her lifelong passion for her husband, Diego Rivera, she is said to have had numerous affairs with other men and women. Throughout her life, Kahlo developed a rich iconography touching on the realms of life and death and mixing violence and vulnerability in ways that often shocked viewers by pushing gender norms. Kahlo stands today as an iconic figure and a symbol of female empowerment, individual courage and Mexican pride. Kahlo’s popularity has grown exponentially in recent decades and has been prominently featured in museums worldwide. Public interest was bolstered by several recently released biographies and Julie Taymor’s Academy Award nominated film starring Salma Hayek.

A brilliant, bold and uncompromising painter, Kahlo’s work is globally recognized for its raw emotional vitality, vibrant use of color and unflinching intimacy. Her style bridges surrealist and magic realism traditions – blending authentic depictions of her life with fantastical elements reflecting her inner thoughts and struggles.

Frida Kahlo’s 1949 painting Diego and I, which sold at Sotheby’s this past November for a record-breaking $34.9 million dollars, makes it the most prized piece of Latin American artwork ever sold at auction. The sale of Diego and I surpassed a benchmark set by Kahlo’s husband Diego Rivera in 2018, when one of his paintings sold at auction for $9.76 million.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.