I finally made it down to see the Frida exhibit at SFMoMA, and although I know it's close to blasphemy for a liberal, SF Bay Arean, ethnic art loving, post-dadaist, pop surrealist to say this, but I was not enthralled. Perhaps it was just the pressing throngs of liberal, SF Bay Arean, ethnic art loving, post-dadaist, pop surrealist humanity pressing up to every tiny canvas that turned me off. I have never been very good at crowded art shows. So I think that this was part of what was problematic for me. But it wasn't just that. I am so used to being blown away when I see an artist's work first-hand after studying it in reproduction, and for some reason Frida's work was not vastly improved by seeing it up close. It was interesting and I'm glad I went, but it was not a revelation. Not in the way that the Cornell exhibit was. I enjoyed examining certain of her canvases from a foot away. For example My Dress Hangs There with it's collaged huddled masses was surprising. Another thing that i was very taken with was her still life canvases. Towards the end of her life, after her final reconciliation with Diego but before her health ultimately gave out, Frida did some still life paintings that are really beautiful. These are not the images that you see on posters and t-shirts because it's not the blood-and-guts Frida; there's no self-portrait staring defiantly out at you. I actually would like to go back and take another look at those pieces. They were at the end of the painting portion of the exhibit; before the photos. By the time I got to them I was worn out with the crowd so I looked quickly and pushed on through. But those were the pieces that I keep thinking about.

Now, the other show, the one on contemporary artists in China. Wow. That was an awesome show. More on that one later.

Labels: art