Montreal is lucky! In addition to being the only Canadian stop for the only official world exhibition dedicated to Frida Kahlo, the metropolis is also the place chosen to present the North American premiere of this “immersive biography” of the famous Mexican painter.

It is the story of the life of the Mexican icon who died in 1954 that this immersive traveling exhibition presented at the Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal is in charge of telling. "The story at the source of the myth" transformed into an exhibition combining mediums and technologies, set up by the Frida Kahlo Corporation officially managing the Frida Kahlo brand image.

Because if Frida Kahlo has become a brand over the years, it is because the painter known for her many self-portraits and her paintings celebrating Mexican culture left behind a work that has touched people of all eras.

Immersive languages

The exhibition offers visitors a singular and colorful plunge into the tumultuous life of the painter born on July 6, 1907 in the Coyocan district of Mexico City. To do this, we use different new immersive languages.

Projections of archival photos and original films, different digital environments, art installations, collector's items and musical pieces are used to represent the pivotal moments of Frida's life - including her tragic accident adding to his already fragile health and his passionate and complex relationship with the famous painter Diego Rivera.

For 90 minutes, the most famous paintings by Frida Kahlo come to life before our amazed eyes thanks to a hundred video projectors forming panoramic tableaux vivants. In addition to the projections of murals, drawings, objects such as clothing, moving flowers, Madonnas, flying watermelons and birds give life to the centerpieces of his work, which are still as relevant as ever.

Part of this exhibition, divided into seven transformational spaces, has visitors wear virtual reality glasses so as to slip into the invented world of this talented self-taught painter.

The exhibition Frida Kahlo, the life of an icon has been presented at the Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal since June 10. Tickets and information: fridakahlomontreal.com