Field Notes on Current Research in Brazil and Elsewhere
Women surrealist artists from Mexico: A show in Sao Paulo (December 2015)
The Tomei Ohtake Foundation houses a major exposition of Japanese-Brazilian artist Ohtake’s work, but it is much more. The building itself it worth a trip, but it also houses traveling exhibits such as this one on Mexican Women Surrealist Artists (running December – January, 2015/16).
The Ohtake Institute is itself a work of art, dedicated to Japanese-Brazilian artist Tomie Ohtake
Ohtake Institute building
A famous Lucien Bloch portrait of Frida Kahlo was used as the billboard wall for the exhibit. At the right is the entrance to a documentary film on Kahlo and the political/artistic world she inhabited.
Self portrait of Frida Kahlo with Diego Rivera
Frida Kahlo, cradling Diego Rivera, and in turn being cradled by nature, the earth, the universe
Diego Rivera, romanticized as a younger, less corpulent man than the photographs of the time show. For a contrast, see the portrait by Modigliani in the Sao Paulo Museum of Modern Art (earlier post)
Part of Frida Kahlo’s circle of artists included Lola Alvarez Bravo, the photographer of his beautifu gelatin print of Frida and her dogs.
Mexican surrealist artist Olga Costa (Corazon egoista), “The Selfish Heart”
Silvia Fein, Garota de Ajijic, “Girl from Ajijic.” This work is actually part of the holdings of the University of Wisconsin
Andre Breton, a significant influence on Frida Kahlo and Mexican surrealism
This work by Remedios Varo is “Woman Leavng the Psychoanalist”
Also Remedio Varo, “Minotaur”
The only physical artifacts in the show were clothing of Frida Kahlo. Without being to identify them exactly, you had the feeling of having seen them in her paintings
