Frida Kahlo Reincarnated
(collection of self-portraits or a visual diary of a contemporary woman artist)
“Whoever has not known himself has known nothing, but he who has known himself has at the same time already achieved knowledge about the depths of all things.”
Book of Thomas the Contender
"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."
Pablo Picasso
One of the most important mottos in my life is KNOW THYSELF. I would put it on my coat of arms if I had one… This concise aphorism defines me as a person and gives a purpose to my existence. I believe that each one of us is a key to the universe and if only people took their time to discover who they are, they’ll be able to find answers to many of their dilemmas and unanswered questions. Taking an honest look at oneself is not easy, because most people think about themselves as being good and just and this approach rarely leads to self-improvement and better understanding of others. I don’t always like what I see in the mirror, but I constantly push myself to keep on looking. At times I’m afraid of my own thoughts, but by being able to sort through them I strengthen my spirit and catch a glimpse of something greater than myself.
Just as Frida Kahlo I frequently use myself as a model for my paintings. I believe that painting myself allows me to better understand myself. Plus, I’m always available and extremely easy to work with. Although, sometimes my intended self-portraits don't end up looking like me, they're usually a good reflection of the thoughts I had at the time I created them. With each new painting I discover more about who I am or who I can potentially become if my faults and passions were left unchecked. To look at my self-portraits please click the paintings on your left. To find out about my connection to Frida Kahlo - keep on reading.
I started painting self-portraits when I was about eighteen years old. Consequently I discovered Frida Kahlo’s art at about the same time. I was researching contemporary female fine artists and found a tiny book on a dusty library shelf that turned out to be Frida Kahlo's diary. I started reading and it felt as if I could've written it. Then I researched Kahlo’s paintings and she became one of my favorite artists. After digging deeper into Frida’s biography I noticed some similarities between our lives and ways of thinking. Reincarnation is an enticing concept for a college freshman, so I rapidly developed a theory transforming myself into Kahlo’s reincarnation. Please keep in mind that I was eighteen at the time and an artist, which I believed obliged me to be somewhat eccentric. Below you’ll find some of my reasons for being Kahlo’s reincarnation:
- Frida Kahlo was a communist and probably believed that being born in the Soviet Union in her next life would be a cool thing. I was born in the Soviet Union. Thanks a lot Frida!
- Frida’s sun sign was Cancer and so is mine.
- As a child Frida Kahlo was a tomboy and so was I.
- Frida had scars from an accident and multiple operations. I have lots of scars as well, although mine mostly came from being a tomboy as a child who eventually became a very uncoordinated adult.
- Frida Kahlo native tongue was Spanish. I studied Spanish for over ten years in school... (the only school in the city of three million where a child could start learning Spanish from the first grade). Doesn’t it feel that somebody (he-he) made sure that I would know her native language?
- My very best friend Tania’s mother looked exactly (and I mean exactly) like Frida Kahlo at the time I became friends with her. So when I saw a photo of Frida for the first time I was looking at a familiar face, a face that I've known for most of my life. No surprises there...
- Frida Kahlo led a turbulent life and considered her paintings an escape from reality. I also paint in order to escape reality. Although unlike Frida I don’t cultivate my feelings of martyrdom and instead take pride in my ability to overcome whatever life throws at me.
- Frida said that she painted herself because she was the subject she knew best. I use similar reasoning when I’m asked about my artwork not to appear too self-absorbed.
- Frida Kahlo had her monkeys. I have my chinchillas. The only problem is that my little critters won’t sit still and pose for me, so there won’t be any self-portraits entitled "Me and My Chinchillas" in the near future.
- Frida Kahlo was in love with a tall large man, whom she couldn’t leave despite his womanizing. As her potential reincarnation I was on occasion attracted to tall large men, but I was lucky that things ended before I followed in Frida’s footsteps.
- Frida Kahlo's tall large man (Diego Rivera) painted calla lilies. For a while I painted calla lilies as well. (God I hope I weren’t Diego Rivera in my previous life, since that as well would explain my imaginary connection to Kahlo).
- Frida Kahlo had a unibrow, I’m still working on mine by applying Rogain in between the two I now have, (no result so far, but I'll keep you updated on my progress).
*the painting above is called "Natasha in her safe place" (oil on canvas, 2010, 24X36)
