‘Frida’s Country’ exhibition opens at Budapest Kunsthalle

Eszter D. Kovács

A new exhibition entitled “Frida’s Country,” featuring German-Mexican photographer Guillermo Kahlo’s most famous works, opened in the Budapest Kunsthalle (Műcsarnok) on June 21.

One of Kahloʼs photographs

The globally celebrated photographer, though father to the renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, is relatively unknown to Hungarians, so the exhibition mainly aims to highlight his unique style, especially since some of his works, such as his shots of the Teatro Nacional, have Hungarian connections.

Kahlo was born in 1871, to a father Frida maintained was Hungarian, and opened his first art studio in 1899 after emigrating to Mexico. Thanks to his first assignment to chronicle the construction of the Casa Boker department store, he became known to the public.

This led to several series, commissioned by noble families, in which Kahlo used his surrealistic perspective to shoot buildings, such as the Banco de México, the parliament building and the Hotel Geneve. His admirers appreciated how, through his use of tone, Kahlo managed to present an image in which the people working on constructions became identical with the objects and the landscape, as this made the artist’s surrealism shine through.

The birth of Kahlo’s third child, Frida, greatly altered his life as his daughter also chose art as her career path. Father and daughter travelled Mexico together and many have pointed out that the photos shot on such trips not only foreshadow Frida’s later style, but also represent elements of their bond.

Kahlo’s works will be on display until September 22. Tickets can be purchased on the official website of the Kunsthalle, starting from HUF 400 for museum pass holders.