From the Editor | Dear Frida Introduction

Dear Frida,

Life deals us each a hand, some may say some are luckier than others, yet this is in large subjective. Some may get the chance to visit all four corners of the world and be enriched by culture, some may be especially proficient in a certain skill or talent that many of us would only dream of – be that a world famous painter, an accomplished writer or possess the voice of an angel. On the other hand, we may see our life as very ordinary indeed, in our eyes at least, but be fortunate to live out our prime in good health. At the end of the day, we are all given the greatest gift of all and that is life itself. And those minutes, days, weeks, months, years that we spend on this Earth are very much unique to us as an individual. While sometimes we may be jealous of another’s life based on our own perception of how fortunate they are, we shouldn't be judgemental. A materialistic life is not the secret to happiness no matter how perfect it may seem. After all, the simple things in life are often the most important, be it family, friends or the experiences we share with one another.

No matter how blessed we may seem from the outside, everyone has their struggles. They say, ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ and this couldn't be closer to the truth when it comes to your life, Frida. We have so much to gain from your time with us and how you chose to act with such grace in the face of adversity. Whether our ‘battle wounds’ are physical or entirely literal, a metaphor for our mental well being, we should never jump to conclusions towards others. We should never feel like we have the authority to invalidate the significance of someone else’s misfortune based on our own experiences.

'Roots, 1943'
This image depicts Frida's torso which is shown to open up to reveal a growing vine. The vine symbolizes Frida's blood vessels and mimics Christs sacrifice as if she, herself, was a sacrificial victim, feeding the parched earth with her own blood. With her head propped up this shows that she is continues to fight despite her numerous hardships.

Frida, some would say you were dealt a difficult hand in life, but I would say that those experiences were pivotal in making you who you were destined to be, a remarkable individual, a beautiful women and an adamant feminist; a shining example of how to get the very best out of life, no matter your creed or circumstance. We each have a calling in life, even though it may not be so obvious at the time. For you that was painting and making your life into an art form. Despite growing up during the Mexican Revolution and being witness to violent gun fire in your home town, you stated your birthday as July 7, 1910 in protest, despite being born three years prior. In doing so you wanted to mark your birth date as the beginning of not only your own life but that of modern day Mexico. Perhaps this was an early sign of your remarkable strength of character. Contracting polio at the early age of six and being born with congenital spina bifida, your growth was significantly affected and caused obvious physical disfigurement. Yet you chose to rise against this, aided by your father’s words of encouragement – something we all could use from time to time. Entering your teenage years you took up more sports than most with even exceptional health and in a time when physical activity was deemed unsuitable for women, encouraging those around you that you can do anything you set your mind on, no matter the constraints imposed upon us. Maybe you simply did this to take your mind off things or as a stance against bullying, but you proved to be no easy target in being the obvious outcast amongst your peers. Instead, you chose to focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses and they followed your lead.

'The Dream, 1940'
The above images show the juxtaposition between how Frida portrays herself during the time which she was bedridden from her injuries. During this time it was thought Frida had a fascination with death, although unlike many other cultures, Mexico celebrates death every year in the 'Day of the Dead' festival, which may suggest Frida is not scared of her possible impending fate. The skeleton was a reminder to Frida of mortality and faces in the same direction as her own body as if it is watching over her. Surprisingly the skeleton appears awake whilst she lies asleep, portraying how close her encounters with death have been.

When you were unfortunate enough to be involved in a bus accident at the age of 18, most would have given up. Countless fractures, dislocations and severe internal damage affected your quality of life drastically, leading to debilitating and life-long pain as well as having detrimental effects to your fertility, something that many believe characterize us, as women. To many these consequences would have been utterly devastating but rather than seeing yourself as a failure in the eyes of society, to you it was just another dent in your armor, in a time when many would have little conscience awareness toward your suffering. Your resilience is truly commendable.

'The Wounded Deer, 1946'
This particular oil painting depicts her time after divorcing husband and fellow artist Diego Rivera after many years of infidelity. The painting shows her as a wounded deer, suggesting the arrow wounds are a metaphor for the hurt and heartbreak her husband inflicted upon her. Although she switches the face of the deer for her own, she does not portray herself as upset, instead her blank expression shows how immune she has become to his actions.

Nowadays Frida, we pride ourselves on being more accepting as a society and although we’ve come a long way, our actions often speak louder than words. Developing empathy towards others is something that too many of us see as a foreign emotion. All too often we are wrapped up in our own life, too busy to even contemplate how others might be feeling. Or we bottle our feelings up causing us to feel suffocated by our own, often negative thoughts, in the belief that nobody would ever understand. If we just took a step back we might realize that despite our differences we have so many similarities. With so many of us in this world we should never have to feel like we are completely alone. We can all be a positive influence to one another in our own compelling way.

'A quote from Frida Kahlo' 
Taken from the autobiography, 'The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self Portrait' (Fuentes)

Sharing our thoughts might be easier said than done, but taking that first leap of faith might have a significant impact on not just our own life but many others too. I am sure you would agree, Frida, that had support from other women been available to you in your day, that you would have welcomed it with open arms. I encourage anyone here comes across this safe haven to share their own thoughts in an anonymous letter addressed to Frida. Whether you want to share your own struggles with adversity or a positive message from lesson learned, I encourage you to do so. In honor of Frida Kahlo, may we all help one another to live a fulfilled life, no matter our past, present or future.

~ From JC ~

References:
Fuentes C. The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self Portrait. Abrams. New York. NY. 2005
'Roots, 1943'
'The Dream, 1940'
'The Wounded Deer, 1946'