VIVA LA VIDA
When I went to Mexico, I knew that I wanted to do a portrait of Frida Kahlo but didn't know it would look like this. You can say I really like her, not her work - HER. Her artwork, of course, I appreciate but her spirit I love. When I visited her house, I could see why she was inspired, the ambiance is so creative. Walking around, I saw some of her artwork and didn't stop in front of the paintings because it was crowded and some woman behind me was getting on my nerves. But then I saw the most beautiful dead nature, her painting called 'viva la vida'.
Viva la vida and why did we connect
It's a simple painting of watermelons cut in different shapes. It looked like there was a lot of people, a family reunion or something and everybody is cutting the watermelon as they like. For me it was like a summer day and there was a massacred watermelon on the table. So simple and beautiful, I could see how everyday moments in life are the precious ones. And so yes, I see Frida with all her suffering and pain of her fragile body, celebrating life and all that it's made of.
SMOKE something bad, something good
Cigarette, smoke and there it is - a butterfly
On my painting, Frida is looking at the smoke coming from her cigarette. Where the smoke pasts, the seeds come together and soon they make a caterpillar that makes the butterfly. I know cigarettes are bad for us but somehow when we go through something 'bad' it can bring us somewhere wonderful. This part of a painting is as personal as it is connected to Frida.
And for the end a few photos that inspired me...