A TRIBUTE TO FRIDA KAHLO at INSTITUTO CERVANTES
On July 6, 2007, one hundred years after the birth of prominent Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Instituto Cervantes will commemorate her artistic legacy by inviting female Filipino artists from various fields to pay homage to the immortal artist. Writers Jessica Zafra and Marjorie Evasco, sculptress July Lluch, filmmaker Ellen Ramos, visual artists Steph Palallos and Wawi Navarroza, and dancer Myra Beltran will take part in Queremos tanto a Frida, Mahal namin si Frida, a series of cultural events covering the month of July. All activities will be held at the Instituto Cervantes premises.
Frida Kahlo, an artist and feminist icon, is well-known for her self-portraits which depicted her emotional pain and physical suffering through symbolism. In the last decades, she has gained the respect of the artistic world and even become a popular figure for the public, resulting in several movies about her life. One of the best films about her is Frida, naturaleza viva, which was directed by Paul Ledouc in 1984. This film will be shown at Instituto Cervantes on July 6 at 6 pm.
Later in the day, Jessica Zafra will be reading her article "Contra Frida Kahlo" to the public. Her article is a criticism against the media's portrayal of Frida Kahlo. On the same day July Lluch will present her Bust of Frida. There will also be a photo exhibit by Wawi Navarroza entitled "Abducted", which will feature her photographs influenced by the figure and work of Frida Kahlo. Another interesting display will be the wire sculpture by Steph Palallos, which is based on Kahlo's self-portrait, "The Two Fridas" (1939). This self-portrait depicts the fragmented side of her personality, the traditional Mexican that Diego adored, and the more modern "European Woman."
On July 14 Marjorie Evasco and Nityalila Saulo will be presenting a joint-performance inspired by the great artist.
One week later, on July 21, Ellen Ramos will be presenting a film inspired by Frida's most surreal work, "What the Water Gave Me". In this video, the water literally becomes a reflective surface where the real and imagined merge.
On July 28, the Frida Kahlo month will come to a close with Myra Beltran premiering her piece "Frida before the Mirror." Beltran will be juxtaposed against images of Frida Kahlo's paintings. As the dancer writes her emotion with her body's movements, constricted due to Frida's physical disabilities, she also writes her body into canvas, just like Frida's inscription of her body in her work. This symbolizes her liberation as an artist and a woman.
To complete the tribute to Frida Kahlo, the Embassy of Mexico and Instituto Cervantes will present Mexican Cinema in the times of Frida Kahlo, a film cycle of films produced during the last decade of Frida Kahlos's life. The cycle comprises four films directed by the movie industry giants Emilio Fernandez and Luis Buñuel: Maria Candelaria (1944), Victimas del pecado (1950), the classic Los Olvidados (1950) and A Woman Without Love (1951). This cycle is genuine proof that Mexican cinema had a prestigious past way before the rise of directors like Gonzalez Iñárritu ( Amores perros, Babel), Cuarón(Y tu mama tambien) and Guillermo del Toro (El laberinto del fauno).
The centenary of Frida Kahlo's birth will be celebrated not only in the Philippines but also worldwide. In her native country, Kahlo will be honoured with the largest-ever exhibit of her paintings at the Museum of the Fine Arts palace, which will be Kahlo's first comprehensive exhibit in Mexico. Works will be on loan from Detroit, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Nayoga, Japan. The exhibit will include one-third of her artistic production, as well as manuscripts and letters that have not been previously displayed.
Mahal namin si Frida is organized by Instituto Cervantes, with the collaboration of the Spanish Embassy, AECI, and the Embassy of Mexico.
Instituto Cervantes
855 Kalaw St., 1000 Ermita
Manila
Tel. (632) 526 1482 - 85
Fax (632) 526 1449
www. manila.cervantes.es
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