FRIDA KAHLO - AN ICON?

ICON, SAINT OR HUMAN?  FRIDA...HUMAN




Frida, I feel so sorry that you had to endure so much suffering.
You were definitely not respected as an artist,
and you seemed to play a secondary role next to Diego Rivera.

Today you are currently more popular than Diego Rivera,
You are consistently and obsessively being painted,
and you are an Icon for female artists.

Now why in the world did I follow the pack of worshippers and force your image
(once again) to be birthed on earth?

Sorry Frida, it was a commission.
What an excuse.
  I too love your indigenous look.
I love the huipil dresses that you wore,
I love the festive braids posed on your head,
I love your persona,
I love your passion for love and life, manifested in your art,
but I don't love your politics at all.

I am sooooo guilty of possessing watches, t-shirts, purses, etc. with Frida Kahlo's image on all of them.
Ok, I'm guilty but as an artist it saddens me to see that we consistently desecrate her image.
Can't we leave her alone? 
Can't we just appreciate her art?
This one factor troubles me.
Frida Kahlo was not an Icon
nor
was she a Saint!
Frida was and is simply a human. 
We are the guilty ones that insist on putting her on a pedestal.

When have you ever heard of artists painting the image of a deceased artist?
Usually we love and appreciate their art and that is it!

But no we insist on painting her over and over again.
My gosh, when will we stop?

Escudero:  GUILTY