Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: The Dior Cruise 2024 Show

Creative Director: Maria Grazia Chiuri

via Christian Dior

Frida Kahlo

Art Appreciation

For approximately 15 years, I have been blogging about art, yet it has taken me this long to write about one of Mexico's most renowned artists, Frida Kahlo. Perhaps I was intimidated by the weight of her history and creations, fearing that I might overlook or misinterpret something. But finally, here we go.

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was born on July 6, 1907, in Mexico City's Coyoacán neighborhood. Her home, known as La Casa Azul, now stands as a historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Frida Kahlo.

Art had intrigued Frida from a young age, and she received drawing lessons from printmaker Fernando Fernández. This eventually led to her becoming a paid apprentice in engraving under Fernández's guidance.

At the age of 18, Frida experienced a bus accident that confined her to bed for three months. This incident, combined with her early polio-induced disability, resulted in lifelong pain and medical challenges for the artist.

To enable her to paint while bedridden, Frida was provided with a specially-made easel that allowed her to create self-portraits by placing a mirror above it. In her early paintings, she drew inspiration from Renaissance masters like Sandro Botticelli.  

In late 1927, Frida began socializing with old friends and became involved in student politics, which ultimately led to her joining the Mexican Communist Party. Through this affiliation, she found herself mingling with political activists and artists such as Tina Modotti and Diego Rivera, who would then become her husband.

Diego and Frida became a power couple of the art world, attracting constant media attention in Mexico and beyond. Their passionate and tumultuous love affair was characterized by a volatile mix of love, jealousy, and artistic collaboration.

During her time in Cuernavaca with Diego, Frida underwent a shift in her artistic style, drawing inspiration from Mexican folk art, her own Mexican identity, and a profound interest in the country's culture. When she traveled to San Francisco in 1930, she carried this new style with her and encountered American artists such as Edward Weston, Dora Maar,  Carl Van Vechten, Ralph Stackpole, and others.

Following Diego to Detroit, Frida explored different techniques, including etching and frescos. It was during this period that her paintings began to exhibit a more pronounced narrative style. Her art became a cathartic outlet, allowing her to express both physical and emotional anguish.

The early 1930s marked a period of intense ups and downs in Frida's relationship with Diego upon their return to Mexico. Despite their frequent separations and infidelities, their bond remained unbreakable, with each artist influencing the other's creative endeavors. In 1937 and 1938, Frida experienced tremendous productivity in her artistic career.

In 1938, the National Autonomous University of Mexico showcased some of Frida's paintings, capturing the attention of art collector Edward G. Robinson and surrealist artist André Breton. They arranged for her first exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York City that same year. A year later, another exhibition took place in Paris, where the Louvre purchased Frida's painting "The Frame," making her the first Mexican artist to be featured in their collection.

Frida's work continued to generate interest and was displayed in prestigious exhibitions in the United States, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Peggy Guggenheim's gallery, The Art of This Century. She also gained recognition in her home country of Mexico.

In 1942, Frida became a founding member of the Seminario de Cultura Mexicana, a group of artists commissioned to promote public knowledge of Mexican culture. The following year, she began teaching art at the nationalistic Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado, holding her class at La Casa Azul due to her mobility issues.

Frida faced significant challenges due to her declining health, yet she continued to create extraordinary work. Her final solo exhibition took place at the Galería Arte Contemporaneo in Mexico City in 1953, captivating audiences with her vibrant colors, intricate symbols, and raw emotions that spoke of her experiences.

Her last paintings, completed before her death in 1954, included notable pieces such as "Marxism Will Give Health to the Sick," "Frida and Stalin," and "Viva La Vida."

Frida's artistic contributions have been internationally celebrated as emblematic of Mexican national and indigenous culture. Her art serves as a reminder of the transformative power of self-expression and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. She has emerged as a powerful symbol of feminism and LGBTQ rights. Her legacy continues to ignite conversations and inspire movements advocating for gender equality and LGBTQ rights.

The Frame (c. 1930s)

The Broken Column (1944)

Marxism Will Give Health to the Sick (1954)

Viva la Vida (1954)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.fkahlo.com/

https://www.moma.org/artists/2963

https://www.fridakahlo.org/self-portrait-the-frame.jsp

http://arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/surrealism/Frida-Kahlo.html

Hedi Slimane

Photography Appreciation 

Born on July 5, 1968 in Paris, France, Hedi Slimane is a multi-talented photographer, artist, and fashion designer. He is best known for his minimalist, rock and roll-inspired aesthetic and his ability to rejuvenate and modernize the brands he works with. 

He grew up in fashion, shopping and sewing fabric with his mother. Then at the age of 11, he received his first camera and learned black and white darkroom printing. In 1992, he graduated with an art history degree from the École du Louvre and completed a tailor apprenticeship with French fashion consultant Jean-Jacques Picart. Picart introduced Slimane to Pierre Bergé, who was searching for a men's wear designer for Yves Saint Laurent (YSL).

In 1996, Slimane began his fashion career at YSL and became the artistic director of its menswear line, where he helped to redefine the look of men's fashion and was credited with popularizing the skinny suit. 

Slimane then went on to work as a creative director for Dior Homme from 2000 to 2007 where he modernized the brand's aesthetic and helped to establish it as a major player in the luxury fashion world. While at Dior, he launched a new men's fragrance called "Higher." He also created stage wear for The Libertines, Mick Jagger, Beck, Jack White, and others. 

During his time at Dior Homme, he pursued photography, and published several books of photographs.  In 2007, Slimane did not renew his contract with Dior Homme. He moved to Los Angeles to concentrate on portrait photography. He has had solo exhibitions of his work in galleries around the world. His photographs focus on youth culture and subcultures, and have been praised for their raw, naturalistic style.

Slimane returned to YSL, now Saint Laurent, in 2012 as creative director. He based his creative studio in Los Angeles rather than the its headquarters in Paris. In 2018, he became the creative, artistic, and image director of Céline. Slimane has dropped the French accent for Céline, making it Celine.

Keith Richards, Los Angeles, March 2013

Frances Bean Cobain (c. 2011)

Courtney Love with veil, London, 2009

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.crash.fr/hedi-slimane-on-photography/

www.hedislimane.com/diary

https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/hedi-slimane

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Slimane-Hedi

https://www.ft.com/content/807d8a2a-3cc1-11e4-9733-00144feabdc0

http://www.fashiontography.net/2011/08/frances-bean-cobain-by-hedi-slimane.html

https://mymodernmet.com/kurt-cobain-daughter/

Happy Fourth!

 

Yoga: Boho Beautiful Yoga - Easy Yoga for Beginners

via Boho Beautiful Yoga 

Mia Malkova

Acting Appreciation

Born Melissa Ann Hevner on July 1, 1992 in Palm Springs, California, Mia Malkova is an American adult entertainment actress known for her stunning beauty, and flexibility. The flexibility is what caught my attention. Malkova can contort herself, allowing for deep penetration in awkward positions. 

From a young age, she was intrigued by the entertainment industry. Her friend, Natasha Malkova, introduced her to the adult film industry. Plus, her brother, Justin Hunt, was an adult film actor.

After working in food service, the 5'7" beauty performed in her first adult film. She would go on to be Twistys Treat of the Month in December 2012 and Twistys Treat of the Year in 2013.

With her gorgeous figure and playful personality, she became one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry. She is known for her impressive versatility and is equally adept at performing in hardcore and softcore scenes. 

Her performances are known for being passionate and erotic, and she has a large following of fans who appreciate her work. She's won several awards for her performances, including the XBIZ Award for Best New Starlet in 2014 and the AVN Award for Best New Starlet in 2015.

When I went to the 2017 AVN Awards red carpet event, I remember seeing her and Danny Mountain, her husband. They both looked incredible and sexy. Unfortunately, they separated soon after. 

In the 2018 documentary film God, Sex and Truth, she stated that she got into porn because she loves sex and the porn world is the safest and best place to explore sex. 

In addition to her work in the adult entertainment industry, Mia Malkova is also known for her activism and philanthropy. She has used her platform to raise awareness about various social and political issues, such as LGBTQ rights, women's health, and animal welfare. She is also involved in several charitable organizations, working to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Gossips INSIDE

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Louis Vuitton Cruise 2024

Artistic Director: Nicolas Ghesquière

via Louis Vuitton