3 Discussions
Jonathan Luna
WednesdayAug 5 at 10:42am
This art piece is very telling about many things. For starters, Friday Kahlo and Diego Rivera are displayed prominently. This is important considering they are the two artists that are always reflected the most upon from Mexico. In history books, in films, in novels, they are the most popular. From the very beginning, both of them were exploited to the masses, creating beautiful murals and generation-defining art pieces. In this art piece, this is reflected as well. They are exploited worldwide. In this piece, Diego Rivera becomes a bag of Doritos, while Frida Kahlo becomes a bag of Fritos. Both of which are chips that are sold daily in the thousands and are existing worldwide. They are sold, distributed, passed around, and enjoyed with such jubilance. Their art has become manufacturers of chips. It is consumed daily. When a kid opens up their laptop and searches Mexican art, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo pop up. In their history books at school, documentaries, even with the Google logo than on their birthday has an image of them celebrating them. They are ingrained into the history of the world. Their art is a thing of beauty. It is their identity being passed around and seen around the world with such craving and delicious enjoyment. Their bag of murals has been passed around and each person takes a chip of enjoyment.
However, this art piece also reflects something much more demeaning. It shows the marketable expansion between Diego and Frida. It shows the misogyny and sexism that exists in art. Although both are exploited and enjoyed worldwide for their art pieces, there still exists discrimination. For Frida, there is a woman hand digging from her bag of art pieces. Yet for Diego, there is a man's and the hand of Mickey Mouse. Not only does this show the world-wide expansion. This shows that regardless of both being prominent, the hand always chooses the male, and the unfortunate telling of this shows the depiction of women that have existed since humankind can remember. Even though this is portrayed, it doesn't take away from the influence Frida has had and will continue to have. Her art is just as important as Diego's, as this art piece reflects. Their murals are immortal and will continue to be passed down through generations as the normal human consumption.
WednesdayAug 5 at 8:55pm
This painting describes the way Rivera and Kahlo's art is being exploited today because it depicts an image of Diego Rivera as Doritos and Frida Kahlo as Fritos. In this painting, the artists are being reduced to popular snacks today. I think it's an accurate representation of how the media often perceives them today because they are seen as very popular and likable artists, however they aren't given the appropriate respect. The painting also shows the hands of different people all enjoying the chips, which would represent people's greed to consume the artists works and anything associated with their name.
This exploits the artists because it uses their name to reach an audience, without accrediting them for anything or illustrating them as something more honorable than just a bag of chips. Today, many artists will create work with their faces or their names as a means of profit. This is clearly something the artists themselves aren't able to consent for. It is also sad to see that in the case of Frida Kahlo, her art was very controversial and highly critiqued during her time. Now, that she has passed, her art has become highly influential and widely accepted but through the act of exploitation.