Less than 4 weeks remain to see Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution at the Art Gallery of South Australia

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Exclusive to Adelaide and the Art Gallery of South Australia is the stunning, vivid Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition which is on until 17 September. While you may think there are no French links between Frida Kahlo and France or the Francophonie, there are several. For example, it was one of Frida’s self-portraits that was the first work by a 20th century artist to be added to the Louvre’s collection in Paris.

Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution
Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Diego on my mind (Self-portrait as Tehuana), 1943, Coyoacan, Mexico, oil on board, 76 x 61 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation

Frida Kahlo’s first exhibition of paintings was arranged by French surrealist poet Andre Breton in New York in 1938. Kahlo exhibited in France in 1939, a long time before an exhibition of her works in her home country of Mexico, which didn’t occur until 1953, a year before her death aged 47.

 

The works that make up the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition come from the impressive collection of Mexican modernism held by Jacques and Natasha Gelman. Jacques Gelman may be a name you’re familiar with as he was a still photographer in film studios in France before later moving to Mexico, initially as a distributor of French films. The Gelmans were not just collectors of art but were friends with the artists they bought from. When Frida was short of money and offered to sell her jewels, the Gelmans instead wanted to buy her art. Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution celebrates not only the love between Kahlo and Rivera but also the love of art patronage itself. As it is stated in the exhibition book, it is “a reminder of the importance of collectors and collecting to the history and tradition of great art and artists”.

installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, featuring Ángel Zarraga’s Portrait of Jacques Gelman and Diego Rivera’s Portrait of Natasha Gelman, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, featuring Ángel Zarraga’s Portrait of Jacques Gelman and Diego Rivera’s Portrait of Natasha Gelman, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

 

While Frida Kahlo’s most well-known works are undoubtedly her self-portraits, the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition also showcases portraits of the very people responsible for bringing the collection to the world – Jacques and Natasha Gelman – as painted by Frida Kaho and Diego Rivera.

 

As is the case for many artists, Frida Kahlo did not truly know success in her lifetime and it is in the most recent decades that she has become an icon. In their lifetimes, it was Diego Rivera who was the world-renowned artist, while Frida Kahlo was virtually unrecognised. That has since changed. A survey conducted across 199 countries in 2020 found that Frida Kahlo was the second most googled artist, was the most googled artist in 29 countries and was one of only two female artists in the top 100 google searches.

Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Self-portrait with red and gold dress, 1941, Coyoacan, Mexico, oil on canvas, 39.0 x 27.5 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation
Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Self-portrait with red and gold dress, 1941, Coyoacan, Mexico, oil on canvas, 39.0 x 27.5 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation

The Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition marks the first time Frida’s works have been exhibited at the Art Gallery of South Australia since the 1990 exhibition entitled The art of Frida Kahlo. The exhibition is comprised of about 150 works from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman collection. 33 works from that same collection were exhibited in the Art Gallery of New South Wales 2016 exhibition Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. It is therefore quite a feat for the Art Gallery of South Australia to be dispalying such a significant number of works in the current exhibition.

 

The entrance to the exhibition is via a wall painted highly saturated, attention-grabbing blue with the words “Frida y Diego viveron en esta casa 1929-1954”. It is a reproduction of an external wall of the house, in which they lived together for a period of time and in which Frida grew up and ultimately passed away. It is a grounding reminder that the exhibition celebrates the works of not just Frida but also Diego, and that the love referred to in its name, which while troubled, was shared by the couple. The bright colours continue throughout the exhibition. Special mention must also be made of Grieve Gillett Architects, who were responsible for the exhibition design. The set-up of the exhibition is a work of art itself, with very Instagram-able colourful walls and delightful angles to capture the works from.

installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

As you may know from Kahlo’s works that have been reproduced on all sorts of merchandise now that “Fridamania” lives on, she often painted herself without embellishing her appearance. In Self-portrait with braid, 1941, Frida paints herself with a shaved head and her signature braid perched on top. She had cut off the braids that Rivera Diego so admired when he had an affair with her sister, Cristina.

 

Kahlo used her art to show the pain and trauma of one of her many miscarriages. As stated in the exhibition book, “Kahlo’s raw and unfiltered painting style reminds us of our flawed humanity; she is a woman who has experienced great pain and loss but she is not simply defined by it”. Kahlo did not allow her disabilities caused by polio and the bus accident to affect her identity or to stop her living her life the way she wanted to. While some speculate that she took on traditional Oaxaca clothing to hide her misshapen leg, after her death, photographs found in the bathroom of Casa Azul depict Kahlo’s maternal ancestors wearing the same traditional style of clothing. She attended her final exhibition on a stretcher.

installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

Rivera Diego was first and foremost a muralist and the exhibition sees the recreation of one of his large murals depicting many important figures from Mexican life and culture. The then Minister of education, Jose Vasconcelos, commissioned Mexican artists to create murals across the city of Mexico. The intent was to use them as a way of teaching the people of Mexico, in particular those who hadn’t been able to access education, and who often were illiterate. Muralism is a key component of the Mexican art scene and Diego was one of the three main muralists given the commissions.  Unlike most public commissions though, the artists had freedom to paint whatever and however they wished to.

 

Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution from The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism is an unrivalled opportunity to uncover the artistic and cultural history of Mexico and encounter the remarkable collectors, Jacques and Natasha Gelman. It is a celebration of the artistic legacy of Frida and Diego and a reminder of the vibrant art community in Mexico. It is rare to have an exhibition of such a scale and importance in Australia, let alone South Australia and we highly recommend you attend before it closes in less than 4 weeks.

Diego Rivera, born Guanajuanto City, Mexico 1886, died Mexico City 1957, Sunflowers, 1943, Mexico City, oil on canvas, 90 x 130 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation
Diego Rivera, born Guanajuanto City, Mexico 1886, died Mexico City 1957, Sunflowers, 1943, Mexico City, oil on canvas, 90 x 130 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation

KEY INFO FOR FRIDA & DIEGO: LOVE & REVOLUTION

WHAT: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution from The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism

WHEN: 24 Jun – 17 Sep 2023

AGSA opening hours:

  • 10am to 5pm daily
  • 10am – 9pm on the first Friday of each month (1 September)

Admission to the exhibition closes 30 minutes before AGSA closes.

WHERE: Art Gallery of South Australia: Galleries 22, 23, 25

HOW: Purchase your tickets via this link (tickets are not dated or timed so allow one entry into the exhibition on any date it’s showing)

HOW MUCH: Ticket prices are as follows:

  • Adult $28.00
  • Concession $25.00
  • Member $20.00
  • Under 18 $12.00
  • Child (Age 0-4) FREE
  • Family (2 Adults + max 3 Children under 18) $66.00
  • Group of 8+ (purchase 1 ticket per person) $21.00
  • Seniors Card Wednesdays $25.00
  • AGSA Members Season Pass $55.00
  • Companion card FREE – this ticket can be obtained from the AGSA Ticket Desk
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

For more events with links to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia this month, check out our What’s on in August article.

 

Monet in Paris brings the most iconic impressionist paintings to Brisbane

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Grande Experiences who brought us Van Gogh Alive now presents Monet in Paris – The French Impressionists Alive brings iconic impressionist works to Australian audiences in Brisbane. We chat to Grande Experiences founder and CEO, Bruce Peterson.

Monet in Paris

Hi Bruce, we spoke about 2 years ago before Van Gogh Alive came to Adelaide for the inaugural Illuminate Adelaide festival. You’re currently showing a new immersive experience in Brisbane, which is related to the works of the French impressionists called Monet in Paris – The French Impressionists Alive. Can you please tell us about this experience?

Monet in Paris is a multi-sensory experience focused on the works of the renowned French painter, Claude Monet and accompanied by some of the world’s most fearless artists of their time including Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas and many more. This rich, dynamic display of light, colour, sound and fragrance brings the masterpieces of these impressionists to life and is presented under the Grande Pavilion, a massive 2600sqm mini Paris.

 

The experience features more than 800 individual artworks, with the centrepiece of the experience an immersive, entire-gallery takeover of Monet’s renowned painting, ‘Woman with a Parasol’. It also includes a recreation of his bridge over waterlilies, a wonderful infinity garden room with 10,000 flowers and fully themed café and retail areas. Unique, revealing, and inspiring, Monet in Paris journeys through the most influential and fascinating period in modern art with curated aromas and a synchronised soundtrack including Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Ravel and Offenbach.

Femme à l'ombrelle
Monet’s “Woman with a Parasol”

Apart from the fact that the works and artist are different, how does Monet in Paris differ from Van Gogh Alive?

Van Gogh and Claude Monet were both influential artists, but they had distinct differences in their artistic styles, approaches and personal lives. Van Gogh Alive is centred around the post-Impressionist artist known for his expressive brushwork and vivid colours while on the other hand, Monet in Paris highlights Claude Monet’s mastery of capturing light and nature.

 

The experiences themselves are totally different. Van Gogh Alive delves into the life, emotions, and creative process of Vincent van Gogh, and provides insight into his personal struggles and artistic development. Monet in Paris immerses visitors into the beauty of Monet’s and a dozen other French Impressionist paintings and the ambience of Paris to create a serene and dreamlike experience.

 

Where will Monet in Paris tour to after Brisbane?

Monet in Paris is currently showing in Northshore Brisbane until Sunday 27 August. We are yet to announce the next city but stay tuned – it is touring Australia!

 

Prior to opening in Brisbane, you wrapped up your other Monet experience, Monet and Friends at The Lume digital art gallery in Melbourne that your company Grande Experiences owns and operates. For those who have visited Monet and Friends, how does Monet in Paris compare? Is it the same experience under a different name?

Monet & Friends at THE LUME Melbourne and Monet in Paris for all intent and purpose is the same experience, presented under different brand names The content is the same and the experience will have an interpretive area, Monet’s Bridge, SENSORY4 Multisensory Gallery, retail, interactive drawing room, sponsor activation and café/bar. Van Gogh Alive and Monet in Paris is toured by our licensee Andrew Kay & Associates.

Monet’s bridge

In Monet in Paris you’re showcasing the following artists and their works: Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. What criteria did you use to choose which works would be included in the experience and which wouldn’t?

We wanted to focus on the most iconic artworks – the art that people travel the world to see and bring it right to their doorstep. The first thing we do is establish a story structure – how we group themes and artists together. From there, we select individual pieces that best illustrate that story, and help tell the broader story of a given artist as an overall experience, as we would with projection as our medium.

 

We know from experience that bright, colourful images work best, so we seek out those as our preference. We also favour high-quality digital images, over poor-quality reproductions. Our team review each individual image for its suitability, as when it’s projected to the size of a building, the medium can be unforgiving! The end result is a beautifully clear image that in some cases can reveal the tiniest details – allowing our visitors to see more than imagined.

 

Where are the original works which you digitised for the experience housed?

The images are sourced from individual art museums and institutions from around the world. Most museums that have a piece in their collection, will have undertaken a process of museum-quality digitisation as part of their preservation process. This results in exceptionally high-quality digital files being available. Monet and other leading French impressionists’ work is highly regarded among some of the world’s leading museums.

Monet in Paris
The ceiling of the infinity garden room 

How do you digitise the works in such fine detail without damaging them?

As above – part of conservation work. The biggest issue for our creative team was finding images that are of high enough resolution to be used in the experience. We can’t just pull the images from Google, we’re projecting them onto towering walls and floors, up to 4 storeys high, so the actual foundation assets have to be very high resolution and appropriately scaled. We are very careful to match to the original artwork as closely as possible and avoid excessive manipulation that could distort the artwork’s appearance.

 

Just as with Van Gogh Alive, the experience doesn’t just show the works on a large digital scale, it also tells the story of the artists and the art movement within which they worked. What appealed to you about the impressionists?

I think what appealed to me about the French Impressionists was the way they challenged the traditional artistic norms of their time. They sought to capture fleeting moments, the effects of light, and the immediate impressions of their subjects, introducing a fresh and innovative approach to art which is what we at Grande Experiences do. The French Impressionists and their works had a profound impact on the art world. Their willingness to challenge conventions and explore new artistic avenues paved the way for future generations of artists to experiment and push boundaries. This was a turning point in the evolution of art and went on to influence subsequent movements such as post-impressionism, Favism, and even elements of modern and contemporary art.

Monet in Paris

Why should people attend Monet in Paris – The French Impressionists Alive?

One of the unique things about Monet in Paris’ is that it appeals to both art aficionados who are seeking a deeper understanding of Claude Monet’s artistic legacy, as well as those who might be seeing the French Impressionists’ work for the first time. The way we bring art to life makes it more accessible to a wider audience. Leveraging our creative storytelling techniques, we created an immersive experience that engages the senses and emotions of visitors. Monet in Paris offers a unique and enriching experience, allowing you to connect with the Impressionists’ artistic genius and explore the beauty and innovation of their timeless artworks.

We thank Bruce Peterson for this interview and hope to see Monet in Paris – The French Impressionists Alive when it tours.

 

KEY INFO FOR MONET IN PARIS – THE FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS ALIVE

WHAT: Monet in Paris – The French Impressionists Alive

WHERE: Le Grand Palais, Northshore Brisbane, Hamilton

WHEN: until 27 August 2023

Opening hours:

  • Monday: 10.00am – 7.00pm
  • Tuesday: 10.00am – 7.00pm
  • Wednesday: 10.00am – 7.00pm
  • Thursday: 10.00am – 7.00pm
  • Friday: 10.00am – 8.30pm
  • Saturday: 9.00am – 8.30pm
  • Sunday: 9.00am – 6.00pm

NOTE: Last session times are scheduled one (1) hour prior to closing time.

HOW: Purchase your tickets (timed and dated or undated) via the official ticket vendor, Ticketek

HOW MUCH: Ticket prices are as follows:

  • Adult $54.00
  • Concession $49.00
  • Child 2-15 Years $39.00

Monet in Paris

For more events with links to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia, check out our What’s on in July article.

 

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