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RIP series reflects a peaceful and tranquil side to my paintings. I pictured skeletons at rest, in one way or another with each back drop, an element of nature or earth; sky, water and fire. The spirit of this series is one of cleansing, healing and renewal. Painting #1 out of 3 titled, 'Duermase' oil on canvas 16 x 20" depicts a skeleton, peacefully resting in a heavenly sky Painting #2 out of 3 titled 'Ophelia Muerta' oil on canvas 16 x 20" depicts a skeleton gently floating in a slow moving stream, surrounded by various flowers. This painting was inspired by the famous painting "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais, based upon Shakespeare's "Hamlet". Painting #3 out of 3 is titled 'En Fuego' oil on canvas 16 x 20" depicts a skeleton in the center of a flame, or I thought could resemble a lotus flower. I couldn't help but think of the death of Frida Kahlo in this one, which was said, as her body was removed from cremation, the remaining bones and ash were of all colors; reds, purples, greens. This painting means for me, cleansing and renewal. Transformation.
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'Reflejo de Frida' is the first painting of 2016 to add to my existing series of Frida Kahlo inspired paintings. I find the inspiration to create another Frida, begin around May of every year, and peak in the summer, around her birthday and also around the time of her death (July). This year, I've decided to use real photos of Frida, as reference. I was drawn to this one of her, as it has such a peaceful quality to me. In many of her photos, she seems quite alone, with the exception of her animal friends. Her lonesomeness seems to intensify in this piece. I wonder as she would stare at her own reflection, if she could fathom the gravity of her life, and how much she would impact future generations of artists, fans, and lovers of Mexican art and culture? Can we the viewers, from the outside, begin to comprehend her experience of pain, life and love? As I painted this piece, I heard voices whisper, 'Will you miss me when I'm gone?', or 'will you remember me when I'm gone?'. I almost titled the painting, with one of these phrases, because they came in so clear, I decided to paint her in skull, on the left, because it is my style; in skeleton, but not a black and white skull. I used every color in the spectrum to create the skull of Frida, because color is life, and although we pass, I believe we continue to live on. I took this a step further, by creating her reflection in the flesh, again using every color to symbolize life, from black to white, and everything in between. The face in the reflection seems to me, not so realistic as it is a spirit of her face. Her face is almost too sacred to paint, and I couldn't look at a photograph but rather, how I felt she would want me to paint her image. Falling from above, from the light, I painted rose petals cascading down upon the two of them. This is a symbol for the love that surrounds Frida today. As the petals fall to the floor, they take on life, transforming into roses, with red vines that continue down the path. I added my 'Tiki Man' statue in the left corner, which symbolizes something ancient and always present, witnessing all our life moments, emotions, struggles, death. For me, this painting is a glimpse; a moment in time, living forever in our hearts and never forgotten. In love, we remember Frida Kahlo.
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AuthorHeather Calderon Archives
July 2021
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