In December 1940, Frida and Diego said yes again, after several years of distance and separation. But even as a married couple, they continued to go their separate ways. Frida retreated into her colourful world full of animals, flowers and dolls - a universe of her own in the Mexican countryside where she felt most at home. This enchanting environment remained her source of inspiration and refuge.
In the painting Me and my parrot, the vivid details break the apparent tautness of the composition. The parrots give the work depth: their carefully drawn feathers form a gentle contrast to the clean lines of Frida's appearance. The fluffy birds seem to embrace her - protectively, almost tenderly - making the stillness in Frida's gaze seem all the more intense.
As was often the case, Frida painted herself together with her beloved animals. The parrots were not just accessories, but beings with whom she felt deeply connected. During the making of this portrait, she had just remarried to Diego, but her heart was beating elsewhere: she was having a passionate affair with Nickolas, a gifted portrait photographer who not only loved her, but also helped her in her very first solo exhibition in New York in 1938. They met in Mexico - a land full of colour, love and contrast, just like her paintings.
I create works with my heart, hands and a lot of love for colour. Each work tells its own story - sometimes joyful, sometimes hushed, always sincere... Read more…