Frida Kahlo / Weekly Selfie Six

Nutaq´ajal (My Land)

Frida Kahlo Was a Painter, a Brand Builder, a Survivor. And So Much More | NY Times

Quote 1: “People have described her as broken and fragile, but she was strong and accomplished a tremendous amount in her lifetime.”

Response: To think of her as broken and fragile is incredibly incorrect, through all the pain she has been through she still managed to have a positive outlook and focus on her artwork. Although she was not recognized after her death, she leaves a significant legacy behind her. 

 

Quote 2:“many depilatory methods existed. That brow was meaningful because it didn’t conform to Hollywood beauty standards.”

Response: As someone who comes from indigenous land, it is inspiring to see how she was not afraid to express her roots and non traditional beauty that is seen as different in the western world. Many people who immigrate here leave behind their culture to then assimilate into the western culture, all due to the fear of standing out and being seen as the odd one. She was not afraid of expressing herself and fighting stereotypes of how a woman should look. 

Hannah Höch, Cut with the Kitchen Knife Dada Through the Last Weimar Beer Belly Cultural Epoch of Germany

Quote 1: “This densely populated work is difficult, if not impossible, to take in all at once. Though complex, it is worth digging in here to understand the cast of characters and what they tell us about the work and the larger thematics of Berlin Dada”.

Response: It is very interesting looking at “Kitchen Knife Dada” It takes more than several looks to understand the four quadrants. The first observation may look like so many things going on but looking at the work in the quadrants breaks them down. Even breaking it down there is so much to analyze looking at each. 

Quote 2: “Höch’s Dada sensibility and her status as a “New Woman” (a historical construct, the “New Woman” was understood to be young, independent, often smartly dressed with a short bob hairstyle, eschewing home and family life in favor of joining the workforce) made her work relevant not only to Weimar culture and politics, but also to changing gender roles”.

Response: I love reading about artists who challenge gender roles and create a statement of representation of androgyny. Creating this powerful statement that dismantled the dichotomy of gender on social roles.