Artwork
Kahlo Tribute, 1 of 5: “In the Saliva"
Commentary on In the Saliva:
This collage is a part of a series dedicated to Frida Kahlo. Her work serves as a wonderful source of inspiration. In each piece, I tried to capture one aspect of her life, character, or artistry. It’s frustrating that Kahlo is usually brought up in the same breath as her partner Rivera, as if she cannot exist independently of him. Although both are talented in their own respect, it's undeniable that they influenced each other. So, for the first collage, I was inspired by In the Saliva, originally written by Kahlo, which reflects on her relationship with Rivera, and later translated by American poet Robert Hass.
As a brief aside, I wish Kahlo's poetry were more widely available; her poetry is as surreal and impactful as her paintings. In the anthology, Surrealist Love Poems, Mary Anne Caws features Kahlo's poem, Now He Comes. It is also worth a read.
Anyhow, I am getting carried away. I tried to depict Kahlo as a broken pot. The floral elements are not intended to serve as mere embellishments but to symbolize her pain and passion. I borrowed the hummingbird motif, common for Kahlo, which, there again, signifies her love and hurt. Behind the burnt poem is a letter to Rivera.
I plan on including other collages from the series soon. But honestly, I’m hesitant to share everything because of AI scraping essentially every corner of the Internet. So, I am deliberating which ones I should include.
This is a mixed media collage, human-made from concept to execution.
Hamlet in an Unweeded Garden
Commentary on Hamlet in an Unweeded Garden:
Here's my first analog collage, Hamlet in an Unweeded Garden (Paper on Canvas), inspired by the Shakespearean tragedy. For my first attempt, I wanted something basic to familiarize myself with the craft. Hamlet ranks among the most referenced and satirized dramas, rife with memorable lines such as the eponymous phrase “To be not to be—that is the question." I tried to borrow the worm-eaten motif to symbolize corruption, and I inserted the image of a falling flower to indicate the passage of time. Although the white background could be perceived as low effort, I think it visually represents oblivion. (Besides, I only had a few materials at my disposal, haha.)
Reflecting on my work, I see plenty of room for improvement. It feels incomplete. The composition lacks a strong sense of direction. But hey, I am excited to continue learning and experimenting with the medium.