Viva la Vida! by Frida Kahlo
Introduction
Painting has always been a way for artists to display the reality in which they live, regardless of whether it is an inner reality, consisting of personal experiences, emotions and feelings, or external reality formed by other people, animals, nature, or other thing. Frida Kahlo is an artist whose work is the result of a reflection of her inner reality, woven from her feelings and emotions. The pain and suffering, which she endured in her life, not only hardened her character, but also largely determined the features of her work.
Frida Kahlo's creativity is unique due to the fact that it reflects not only the unique life story of the artist, full of mental and physical sufferings, but also demonstrates the spiritual qualities of Frida, such as fortitude, endurance, willingness to fight for life. For this reason, the study of the creativity of the Mexican artist involves an appeal to the facts of her biography. It helps to understand and grasp the specifics of her creations, each of which is capable to communicate with the audience in the language of love, suffering, and hopes of life. In this paper, one of my favorite artworks, namely Viva la Vida! (1954) by Frida Kahlo in connection with the life of the artist will be analyzed.
The Facts from the Biography of Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo (1907-1953) is known worldwide as one of the most dramatic figures in the history of art: at the age of 18 she got in a terrible car accident that caused her physical suffering the rest of her life. “Her internal life caromed between exuberance and despair as she battled almost constant pain from injuries to her spine, back, right foot, right leg, fungal diseases, many abortions, viruses, and the continual experimental ministrations of her doctors” (Souter, 2005, p. 8). Moreover, she also suffered because of her marriage with Diego Rivera, the famous muralist, who cheated on her. From almost every picture by Kahlo, the brown eyes under black and fused eyebrows are intently watching the spectator. This meditative, like a Buddhist idol’s, view has nothing to do with the European tradition of portraiture. It is not a "mirror of the soul". It is a sign and a symbol. All Frida’s creativity is usually considered expressive surrealism with ethnic motifs. However, Frida vehemently argued that she never was a true surrealist, since she was irritated by the artificiality and affectedness of surrealism.
Frida is not smiling on any of her self-portraits: serious, even mournful face, fused thick eyebrows, black mustache over her tightly compressed and sensual lips. The idea of her painting is encrypted in details, background, and figures. The symbolism of the artist is based both on national traditions and the Indian mythology of the pre-Hispanic period. Frida Kahlo knew the history of her homeland perfectly. However, one might notice the influence of European art on her work. For example, Frida clearly showed enthusiasm for Botticelli in her early paintings.
The Features of the Painting Viva la Vida!
Viva la Vida! was created a few days before her death in 1954. Kahlo depicted a loose scarlet flesh of watermelon, which was, of course, her self-portrait. If this picture is a self-portrait of Frida Kahlo, then how can one understand it? What did Frida want to tell by this picture? What was she feeling when drawing it? This picture is considered as a message to the viewer since it is able to talk, despite the fact that it displays only a few watermelons. With this painting, Frida Kahlo could convey what she felt in the days before her death. She was able to convey her endless love of life that was so cruel to her (Johnston, 2007). Why did she depict not one, but a few watermelons in the picture? The answer is quite simple: with a few watermelons, she was trying to emphasize what she wanted to say to us. She wanted to focus viewer's attention on the fact that she continued to love life, despite all the suffering that had occurred to her.
This painting is a true paradox: all her life Frida suffered from physical and emotional pain, but a few days before her death she found the strength to create this picture, which proclaimed the love of life. One can do nothing but admire the courage and fortitude of this woman, who continued to love life despite her severe suffering. Viva La Vida is a prime example of the art of modernism. In this picture one might find the basic elements of modernism: the desire to convey the inner state of mind, a high degree of symbolism, the ambiguity of values. As for the latter, it is expressed in the fact that Frida, simultaneously with proclamation of the love of life, depicted her dying body. One might understand it if he/she looks at the watermelon flesh and sees that it has a slack appearance. In this painting, Kahlo portrayed herself the way she was during creating her work, namely a physically exhausted and ready to die woman, who, at the same, time continued to love her life.
This picture is and will always remain an embodiment of Frida’s inflexible courage and love of life. Frida lived, spilling all of her emotions onto the canvas. For many years, only the silent white sheet had been her constant companion, taking the whole range of emotions that accompanied the life of the artist. No matter what tragedies, troubles or joy happened to her, Frida complained to nobody. She hurried to a stretcher and drew. This activity had never let her down. Maybe that is why no one can be indifferent to her pictures, including Viva La Vida. In this picture, each stroke and smear shows the real Frida Kahlo. It may seem that Frida would love to see herself through the eyes of a different generation and, therefore, to look at us through our eyes. After all, she was surprisingly inquisitive, and her thought always rushed into the future. Frida Kahlo is a memorable figure in the history of Mexican modernity, whose pictures are full of sincere confession and spiritual experiences. This picture is not an exception. How poignant and sensual this painting is! How thin and rough, how bright and honest! All of her works, including Viva La Vida, are the evidence that all her life was nothing else but honesty with herself and the world around (Chicago& Bordello, 2010). This painting, presented by Frida Kahlo, occupies a place of honor in the history of art and the history of modernism. Thanks to her paintings, in particular Viva La Vida, Frida continues to live among us and talk to us, sharing her spiritual experience.
Conclusion
Unlike most of the works by Frida Kahlo, Viva la Vida!, which was created a few days before her death, is the epitome of optimism and love for life. This stunning picture is the culmination of the entire work of the talented Mexican artist. The destiny of the woman was amazing! A strong, freestyle, but at the same time a gentle and sensitive woman became the idol of thousands of art lovers worldwide. Her passion and temperament, which were determined by Kahlo’s belonging to the hot people of Mexico, as well as her irresistible desire to express her pain and suffering in her paintings helped create a new style of painting, which may be called “the style of Frida Kahlo”.
Taking into account the hard Kahlo’s life, Viva la Vida! should have conveyed to the viewer the feeling of hopelessness and loss of faith in life, which was so fierce for the artist. Frida Kahlo endured so much suffering and sorrow as well as mental anguish, doubt, and unrest. Nevertheless, her latest work is fundamentally different from all others. It seems to say to the audience: "Yes, I am dying and my body is gradually degraded because of the terrible disease. However, I continue to believe in life and love as a manifestation of this life. I want you to continue to love life, despite all the suffering that it might bring to you. Live and enjoy your life, because life is beautiful in itself."
I admire this painting, because I admire Frida Kahlo. Her complex fate is the best proof that talent and strength of character can help move inhuman pain, break down the stereotypes of society, and even find immortality. Famous artists and writers, the President of Mexican Lazaro Cardenas and, of course, the inconsolable Rivera accompanied Frida’s final journey. In his autobiography, Diego wrote that the day Kahlo died was the most tragic in his life. He added that he realized too late the simple truth that the most wonderful part of his life was his love for Frida (Souter, 2005).