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.

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...