Bolivia welcomes unprecedented Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera exhibition

By Yolanda Salazar

La Paz, Dec 27 (EFE).- The life and work of one of Mexico’s most emblematic couples both for their art and for their tumultuous love affair is reflected in an intimate and unprecedented exhibition of photographs of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera that is now open to the public in La Paz, Bolivia.

The “Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, biographical notes” exhibit, on display at the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) cultural gallery in La Paz, consists of about 60 photographs of the couple’s parents and works of art, and it delves into their illnesses, their deaths and the love these two iconic Mexican artists had for one another.

Mexico’s ambassador to Bolivia, Maria Teresa Mercado, told EFE that the exposition is very important because it includes photos that are part of the archives of the two artists and that present an “historic view” of their lives and their struggles and which are now on display in Bolivia for the first time.

“They are two very well-known personalities on the world level, whose works have risen to great heights, are much appreciated and valued all over the world,” the envoy said.

Mercado emphasized that the exhibition includes, for example, photos of the parents of the two artists and photos from their childhoods, but also “the passion and the torment” of their love affair, their two marriages to one another, the process whereby they created their artwork and murals, but also their deaths and their political leanings.

In addition, there are photos taken by Guillermo Kahlo, Frida’s father, and by well-known photographer Guillermo Zamora, along with others by an “unknown” photographer.

Also to be found in the exposition, are photos of Kahlo’s childhood at her home in Guanajuato, both artists participating in a painters’ march, the emblematic Casa Azul, attending a communist party event, Rivera’s study and his murals, on a trip to New York, their second marriage and at each of their funerals.

CAF representative in Bolivia Florentino Fernandez said that the exhibit of never-before-displayed photos is “very important for fostering this kind of activity” that can create an “impact” on the culture of the countries of the region.

“We at CAF are promoting creative economies, known as the orange economy, and we’re promoting the idea that this kind of exposition can create … an important impact on the culture of our countries,” Fernandez told EFE.

Organizers say that the exposition also will be taken to CAF venues in Uruguay and Venezuela and will be on display at the next meeting of the economy and finance ministers of Europe and Latin America.

Fernandez said that the exhibit, which will be open to the public until February, has already been quite a success in Bolivia with many people, especially young people, coming to the site to examine the photos.

Curating the exhibit was handled by the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo in conjunction with Mexico’s National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature along with the Mexican Embassy in Bolivia.

EFE ys/bp