Alistair Hardaker | Image: 'Frida: The Making of an Icon' mural. Thames Path, Blackfriars Station,
Tate Modern reports Frida: The Making of an Icon as highest pre-selling show in its history, with public art programme launching across the capital.
A programme of public art has launched across London to coincide with Tate Modern’s exhibition Frida: The Making of an Icon, which opens on 25 June.
Tate has described the exhibition as the highest pre-selling show in its history, with more than 35,000 tickets sold so far.
Six large-scale murals have been unveiled around Bankside, created by artists aged under 25 in response to Kahlo’s life and work. The murals mark the second iteration of Beyond Boundaries, a collaboration between Better Bankside and Tate Collective, Tate’s scheme for 16 to 25-year-olds, with support from Oxford Properties. The murals are due to remain in place for several years and explore aspects of Kahlo’s identity including her feminism, Mexican heritage, queerness and experience of disability.
The selected artists include Amy Almeida, Eddie Donaldson, Milena De Rosa, Helena Samarasinghe, Gloria da Silva and Sharoola.
In Soho, an installation titled ¡Frida Icónica! on Carnaby Street will feature garlands of papel picado, the Mexican art of decorative paper cutting, designed by Mexican artist Alejandra Ballesteros. At its centre, an anamorphic mural composed from artworks by contemporary artists will reveal Kahlo’s profile when viewed head-on. The installation launches on 25 June to coincide with Pride month and the exhibition opening.
Kahlo’s image will also appear on screens in Piccadilly Circus and on walls around Blackfriars station, reimagining her Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) through the work of contemporary artists.
Catherine Wood, interim director of Tate Modern, said: “Positioning Frida as an artist for 21st century London, we will offer audiences multiple entry points into her world – from the intimate space of the gallery to the shared experience of the public realm.”
Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “Public art brings our urban landscape to life – sparking conversations and bringing communities together with free access to culture for all as we build a better London for everyone”.
