Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon – Singapore

Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon & Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful – ArtScience Museum, Singapore

Words: Matt Brown
Photos: Monica Tindall

Two exhibits at the ArtScience Museum offer visitors to Singapore a chance to experience some world-class presentations of incredible work – Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon, and Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful.

Southeast Asian Premiere: Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon

Discover the fusion of traditional and cutting-edge elements in this exhibition, bringing Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s story to life. Blending 360-degree digital projections with holography, virtual reality experiences, replicas of Kahlo’s dresses, and hands-on activities, this experience offers a dynamic exploration of the iconic artist’s life and legacy.

Co-created by the Frida Kahlo Corporation and Spanish digital arts company, Layers of Reality, this exhibition is a clever combination of striking design and Instagram-worthy imagery with plenty of historical information and a deeper dive into the life and work of this artist than other immersive shows have offered to audiences.

Begin your journey by engaging with cultural foundations as you approach an altar of the dead, nodding to Mexican traditions and Indigenous rituals. Bilingual information panels guide you through the space, grounding Frida Kahlo’s practice within its sociopolitical context and her personal experiences.

Visitors will encounter installations like “The Incident,” a multilayered holograph depicting the trolley car accident that profoundly impacted Kahlo’s life. They can also experience “The Dream,” a projection that illuminates elements from her paintings, reflecting her resilience and creativity amid physical adversity.

Engage with interactive experiences such as “Endless Symbology,” where you become an active participant, immersing yourself deeper into Kahlo’s world with every step. Delight in the sheer joy of sending torrents of flowers, skulls, and foliage into swirling eddies as you navigate the space.

Enter a large room central to the exhibition, extending Kahlo’s journey through the cities and circles she engaged with, showcasing elements of her signature artworks. Lose yourself in this immersive section, curated by Barcelona-based Martes Studio, featuring photographs, animation, poetry, and graphics that bring Kahlo’s world to vibrant life. At a pop-up cantina, guests can try their hand at colouring in their own portraits of Frida. You can contribute to the blooms in a three-dimensional flower garden with your inspiration for love and joy.

Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful.

Besides Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon exhibition, guests can also check out another incredible collection. Arriving at the ArtScience Museum from the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne, Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful. is a celebration of the women in cinema who have forged their own paths over the past 120 years, elevated different voices and perspectives, and entertained us in powerful and transformative ways.

From Michelle Yeoh’s fearless martial arts stunts to Anna Tsuchiya’s defiance of Japanese cinema stereotypes and Laverne Cox’s advocacy for marginalised communities, “Goddess” showcases the inspiring qualities of these screen legends. Behind-the-scenes footage, sketches, and original costumes, including those worn by Marilyn Monroe and Chinese movie star Zhang Ziyi, offer a glimpse into the lives of these iconic figures.

“Goddess” takes you on a journey through cinematic achievements from classic Hollywood to the modern day, highlighting contributions from Hollywood, Hong Kong, Bollywood, and beyond. Experience the impact of martial arts styles on American action movies and the golden age of Malay cinema in Singapore, demonstrating the enduring legacy of film beyond the silver screen.

Developed and curated by ACMI, Australia’s national nuseum of screen culture, this iteration of “Goddess” in collaboration with ArtScience Museum shines a powerful spotlight on Asian film luminaries. As part of ArtScience Museum’s Year of Extraordinary Women, this exhibition celebrates the remarkable contributions of women in film and culture.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the intersection of film, culture, and gender in an inspiring showcase of extraordinary women in cinema.

The Details

Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon runs until September 1st. Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful runs until August 11th. Prices start from SGD 33.50 for a Four Exhibit Access Museum pass, SGD 19.00 for Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon tickets, and SGD.00 for Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful tickets. Check out another exhibit, Future World: Where Art Meets Science, and an idea for where to eat near the ArtScience Museum Singapore here.

Reasons to visit the ArtScience Museum Singapore: I don’t want to get on my high horse here, but museums and galleries are important! They do amazing work and teach us about our shared humanity in incredible ways, as evidenced by the clever curation of these two exciting exhibitions. There is no reason not to spend a few hours exploring these awesome celebrations of women in the beautiful surroundings of the museum next to Marina Bay Sands.

Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon & Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful.
ArtScience Museum
6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974
+65 6688 8888
www.marinabaysands.com/museum

ArtScience Museum Sinagpore Opening Hours
Open Daily, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
(Last entry 6:00 pm)

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