On October 1, MIS opens the exhibition “Frida: A singular vision of beauty and pain,” by Julia Fullerton-Batten.
Unprecedented in Brazil, the exhibition, curated by João Kulcsár, presents 18 images in honor of Frida Kahlo, 70 years after her death. The works were produced in Mexico City by German photographer Julia Fullerton-Baten, known for her cinematic visual narratives and sophisticated lighting techniques.
To create these photographs, Julia worked with models, a local film costume designer – who was committed to finding authentic handcrafted costumes from Oaxaca – and Mexican producers. These producers gave him access to hidden and secret places such as an abandoned mansion in the heart of Mexico City, a private residence designed by the internationally renowned architect Luis Barragán, ancient haciendas steeped in history, and the enigmatic Island of the Dolls in Xochimilco, famous for its floating and mystical gardens.
“The result we see is a series of images that capture Frida’s vibrant energy and unmistakable strength through contemporary Mexican sets and costumes,” says João Kulcsár, curator of the exhibition. “When I look at her paintings, I feel inspired to be brave. When I look at her paintings, I feel her love for Mexico,” says Julia.
About the photographer
Julia Fullerton-Batten (Bremen, Germany, 1970) is a fine art photographer known for her highly cinematic visual storytelling. Her large-scale projects are based on specific themes. Each image in the project embellishes its subject in a series of thought-provoking narrative “stories” using staged frames and sophisticated lighting techniques. Julia’s use of unusual locations, highly creative sets and street models, accentuated by cinematic lighting, are hallmarks of her style. She insinuates visual tensions into her images and surrounds them with a mystique that compels the viewer to continually reexamine the image: each time something new comes to light.
About the curator
João Kulcsár is a visiting professor at Harvard University and holds a Master of Arts from the University of Kent, England. He has been a visiting professor for 30 years coordinator of the Degree Course in Photography at Senac. He has curated more than 80 photographic exhibitions in Brazil and abroad. Since 2008 he has developed the photography project with blind people. He is the coordinator of the teacher training project for the use of photography in the classroom in Brazil and abroad. He is the director of the Paranapiacaba Photography Festival and the São Paulo Photography Festival.
