self portrait as an autobiography
Self portrait as an autobiography is an
effective tool that has been used to communicate ones experiences. The self-portrait is a document that keeps rate
with the client’s changing in views of self and as such it provides a design for
exploration and/or other career planning processes. More significantly, artists
who use self-portraits testify making life and work options that are worth and
that have enduring consequence, (Redekopp et al, 1993). Feminism has been a significant perspective in
which the visual culture has been presented over a period of time. Feminism and
Visual Culture Reader presents diverse ranges of arts, visual culture, works
and related materials from feminist dimensions.
The
aim of this reading is to critically evaluate and present the self-portraits of
a Mexican female artist, Frida Kahlo. The reading will argue out the portraits
importance as they are presented as a reflection of the experiences that she
goes through until her death.Importantly, the arguments will go outside the
artistic point to propose the knowledge that can be drawn from such
experiences.Furthermore, and it will also guide to comprehension of the
problems that female’s experience. Her different experiences in life drive her
to paint her own portraits. Some of them are childhood based, marital
experiences, and self perceptions among others.
She had changed her date of birth
from 1907 to coincide with the date of Mexican revolution which took place in
1910.During her young age, she experienced health problems. At the age of 6,
she suffered from polio that affected parts of her body. She also suffered
traffic accidents that left her paralyzed. A portrait of the Mexican artist
Fridah Kahlo (Nikolas Murray, 1940) has shown below presents her image with
several other objects around her. 
She has worn a thorn necklace and
a hummingbird hanging on it. She seems to be sad or frustrated. Behind her,
there is a black cat on her left side and a baby monkey on her right side.
There is also a background decorated with dark-colored flowers filling the
region and only one bright yellow colored flower. She has worn a white garment.
In this image the thorns are representing the suffering and the pain experienced
during that period. There were a lot of political and cultural problems during
her tender age. Khalo explain the problems experienced in that period. She had suffered
from polio disease when she was six years. She had also had traffic accidents
especially during her teen age which left her to suffer for the rest of her life.
Her three pregnancies had to be terminated because of her health problems. In
this case suffering seems to be the overriding theme with only a little ounce
of hope being left in her. To a greater extent she uses the image to express
her emotions, suffering and pain.
The garment that she has worn
could be signifying peace. During her tender age there were many problems that
were experienced in the society. The story of her life also informs that she
wore tall and bright clothes especially the dress. This was meant to disguise
herself and hide the effects that the accidents had on her leg. The white robe
could however be signifying innocence. This can be ironical since she contends
that she was born a bitch.From her story, she flirts with both men and women
whom she engages with sexual relationships.
The artistic work of Khalo also
brings the understanding of the problematic relationship between the gender,
culture and nationalism. This was specifically during the post-colonial period
after the Mexican revolution that took place in 1910. (Kibey A, 2001).
From the image above, she is wearing
the traditional Mexican dress. This could be symbolic of her refusal to be dependent
on French and American capitalists. She might therefore be showing her liberation.
Rivera her husband is quoted saying at one point, “The classic Mexican dress is
created by people for people. There was a popular believe that wearing clothes
designed by other countries was a sign of mental and emotional corruption. The dress
might be a representation of her recognition of Aztec cultur.She shows strength
of mind and conviction. There is also an aspect of a feeling of national pride
as well as revolutionary zeal. This was a strong step by Khalo of showing
respect for the rules and regulations laid down by the society.
Figure 15 shows a portrait of Khalo
dressed like a boy before she married Rivera. It is evident that her use of
costumes explains issues beyond her own experiences. She wore like a man
intentionally to show her interest to issues of gender. The dress she wore also
conveyed cultural meanings. For instance, the dress she wore from the
Tehuantepic where women were socially and economically stable. She also wore
flowers in her hair in addition to the men’s trousers.
Wearing
of a crossed shawl could be a symbolic of representation of female fighters
during the Mexican revolution. To a large extent she also wore the traditional
dress to signify her solidarity with the suffering and the oppressed Mexican.
This was meant to revive the power and the position of women in drastically
changing society. For example, her changing of date of birth from 1907 to 1910
to coincide with the Mexican revolution at an early age showed her political aspiration.
The end of 19th century saw the economic decline in Mexico under the
dictatorial leadership of Porfirio Diaz. Poverty rate was high and the state
resources were concentrated among the few elites.
Most
of the havoc that was evident in Mexico during the time was the dilemma that
arose between retaining the traditions and identity versus modernization. Frida
in the course of her life witnessed social and political instability more so at
a tender age. She constantly identified herself with the poor and the suffering
despite her close relatives’ prosperity.
Khalo
shows her intellectual capacity by her images. She also shows enthusiasm in the
way she indulges in political ideas. Her imagery draws her into a lifelong
passion although she seems to fail by engaging in destructive relationships
that leads her to turmoil. Her work is greatly characterized by juxtaposition
of politics, religion and gender. There are also other significant opposites
brought out in the art such as light and dark, male and female, ancient and modern.
Although she seems to be disinterested with studies as evident by the advice
she gives her friend, she has the ability to use her talent of painting to
address different issues. It is ironical that she attempts to view education as
unnecessary while at the same time she is seen to continue with her exploratory
studies which are aimed at enlightening her.
Most
of her experiences has emanated from the historical evidences she has seen in
México. For instance, she has been in touch with other portraits. These impart
a lot of knowledge to her and she struggles to make her personal portraits that
depict the different problems and events that have been happening in the
society.
It
is expected that because her mother is a devoted catholic Christian, she should
is also expected to be a Christian.Ironically,she
engages herself in politics and ideas that are her main ambitions. In a
nutshell her presentations of the different portraits are aimed at delivering
certain relevant knowledge from both the
private and the public arena.
References
Jones, A. (2010). The Feminism and Visual
Culture Reader. New York: Routledge.
45-
48.
Christine, R. (2008). Precarious Visualities: New Perspectives on Identification in
Contemporary Art and Visual Culture.Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.
Creating
Self-Portraits. ERIC Digest. – ERIC Digests.Org ... (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ericdigests.org/1997-4/self.htm
Redekopp, D.E., Day, B., Magnusson, K., & Durnford, C. (1993).
Creating self portraits.
Edmonton, AB:
Centre for Career Development Innovation.
Ades, Dawn. (1998).
"Surrealism and the Representation of the Female Subject in Mexico and
Postwar Paris." Mirror
Images: Women, Surrealism, and Self-Representation, edited by
Whitney Chadwick. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press,.p.g. 106-127.
http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_frida_kahlo.htm
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