
Throughout the MA I have been searching for a way of expressing visually the inner tension I have been experiencing in my recent life. I recently watched the movie Frida and was moved by the story. Here was a woman leading an exciting, passionate and energetic life at the same time as suffering physical and emotional pain. She is an embodiment of what I want to show and her work captures the tensions of life at peak moments. Strength at the same time as weakness, confidence and vulnerability, happiness and sadness.
Many of her works capture these tensions. The Two Fridas is the one that has held my attention.
‘In this painting, the two Fridas are holding hands. They both have visible hearts and the heart of the traditional Frida is cut and torn open. The main artery, which comes from the torn heart down to the right hand of the traditional Frida, is cut off by the surgical pincers held in the lap of the traditional Frida. The blood keeps dripping on her white dress and she is in danger of bleeding to death. The stormy sky filled with agitated clouds may reflect Frida’s inner turmoil.’ (Kahlo online)
There is a seed of an idea here I need to cultivate. As I begin work on my FMP what is the subject that is going to interest my audience? What is the intent of my work? At any moment Kahlo’s life appears perfect and horrific. The two go together and it was her defiance in the way she lived and the paintings she produced that makes her name and her art endure. Can the work about me and my experience be as compelling?

The above image was inspired by The Two Kahlos. It is a beginning. The question is photographically how can I get across my broken heart at the loss of my love, all the pain that went with her final years and all the love and happiness that we enjoyed at the same time?
Plenty of questions so now time to find some answers.
References
Kahlo, F. Paintings, Biography, Quotes. [online] Available at https://www.fridakahlo.org/the-two-fridas.jsp (Accessed: May 3rd, 2020)
Categories: Contextual Research FMP, Final Major Project