1982 Whitechapel show on Kahlo and Modotti inspires documentary
In 1982, film theorists Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen curated a landmark exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery in London dedicated to Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti. It was the first retrospective of the Mexican painter outside her home country. The exhibition provided the impetus and materials for Mulvey and Wollen to produce a short video essay exploring the art and lives of these two iconic figures of the Mexican Renaissance. The film, now fully available online, analyzes Kahlo's paintings and Modotti's photographs, and includes archival footage of daily life, home movies shot at the Casa Azul that Kahlo shared with Diego Rivera, and clips from the Hollywood film The Tiger's Coat, in which Modotti appeared as an actress.
Key facts
- Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen curated the 1982 exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, London.
- The exhibition was the first retrospective of Frida Kahlo outside Mexico.
- The exhibition focused on Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti.
- Mulvey and Wollen created a short video essay based on the exhibition.
- The video essay covers the art and life of Kahlo and Modotti.
- The film is fully available online.
- The film includes home movies from the Casa Azul.
- The Tiger's Coat is a Hollywood film featuring Tina Modotti as an actress.
Entities
Artists
- Frida Kahlo
- Tina Modotti
- Diego Rivera
- Laura Mulvey
- Peter Wollen
Institutions
- Whitechapel Gallery
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Mexico
- Casa Azul