Friday halo- self portrait on the borderline between mexico and the United States Flashcards
(19 cards)
year
1932
material
oil on tin- small paintingsb known as retabols
retabols and how she subverts traditional retabols
she subverts traditional retabols woth unusual subject matter
retabolts reflect catholic heritage
she owned many ex volitos she obtained from church
started working in this style in 1932
mexican revolution and communism context
afyer the establismnet of the communist government she became a communist and started hating capitalism
had an affair with Trotsky and became involved in the communist party in 1940s
therefore this piece shows national pride and hate for capitalism (holds flag between two conflicting worlds showing her stance)
when did frida take up painting
after her bus crash
who was frida in a relationship with
mexican muralist diego rivera
what was fridas experience in the US
she travelled to the US with Diego where he did murals for the river rouge factory and ford
she had her miscarriage there
Us became a symbol of trauma
what are the key contrasts between each side of the painting
-vegetation mirrors wires (decay of nature in new america, america feeds of mexican resources)
-mayan temple vs skyscrapers (differnece between natural and man made materials)
-gods vs flags shows worship of capitalism in america
-fertility gods vs silo’s, marching soldier figures
-pallete (natural and earthy vs industrial)
how are the two sides linked
machine with two cords
one connects with the roots and one is plugged into Us border marker
-SUGGESTED that the wires are powered by mexico, alludes to the US draining the resources and heritage of pre-Columbian Mexico
LEFT SIDE
HANDS
Hold mexican flag over this side indicating this is mexico
FOREGROUND
flowers and vegetation (cactus plants, lillies and plants indegenous to mexico)
their roots mirror american wires
MIDGROUND
depicts a fertility god (shows mexican tradition and connotes fertility of natural land)
skull-reference to day of dead culture
BACKGROUND
mayan temple mirrors industrial buildings
made out of natural materials
sun and quater moon represent acient mexican gods
RIGHT SIDE
HANDS
holds cigarrette (decay of health shows decay of society, also shows industrialisation)
FOREGROUND
there is a speaker and spotlight (unnatural tech) wires mirror roots of natural plants
MIDGROUND
pipes appear to be silos
represents marching figures (hatred for capitalism)
BACKGROUND
factory pumping out smoke that frames american flag that hovers over skyscrapers
word ford on chimneys of factories
how does this show identity
cultral identity: mayan temple, fertility god, sun and moon gods, nature, mexican flag, use of a retabol
autobiographical identity: hate for capitalism and trauma from USA, catholic religion, mexican heritage
political identity: relationship with communism and hate for capitalism
what does the inscription on the pedestal she stands on say
nscription has her married name, idntifies her as diego’s wife, as he was doing murals for rivera rouge factory
what subverts her femininity
olds cigarette, defiance of femininity (pink frilly dress)
self portrait
-central to composition, stands on a pedestal, sort of trophy
-she literally splits the two sides in half
-Her body is turned towards the Mexican side and she holds a Mexican flag, shows allegiance
coral necklace and monobrow significance
coral necklace and prominent monobrow asserts her pre-Columbian Mexican heritage
significance of metal silo’s vs fertility gods
perhaps reflecting the miscarriage FK suffered whilst in Detroit and associating the US with barrenness
WHEN DID SHE JOIN MEXICAN COMMUNIST PARTY
joined the Mexican Communist party in 1927
SIGNIFICANCE OF AMERICAN FLAG CONTRASTING RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM
suggesting worship of capitalism in America
