12 Jul Self Portrait: Only You Can Tell Your Story

Posted at 23:51h in Articles by AdmonMafalda 0 Comments

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A Feminine Soul’s Journey.

Being invited to Arya’s retreat as an Art & Experience Curator (a Women’s Investment Platform) in Bodrum, Turkey by its Founder, Ahu Büyükkusoglu Serter in 2018, I decided to create an art project for her guests inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, certain that her life story and fiery personality reflected in her paintings and narrative, would help me to offer a great workshop imbued with joy, spiritual aura, and great amount of introspection for all entrepreneurs.

This painter seen in colourful dresses always looking at the viewer with dignity and embellished with traditional costumes and jewellery, battled adversity like no one, evolved, and transformed herself into a unique icon, unafraid to express her vulnerable soul and spirit in all her artworks and personal Diary.

Hand in hand with her leader Ahu, Denise and Arya’s team members; artist and singer Bumi Thomas, Curator Rocio Del Toro; advisors Vania Morales, Ana Rivera, Tania Villanueva, Paulina Miy, Antoine Zervudaky, Iván Velasco, and myself, the retreat became a true collective journey across cultural borders, professions, religions or ages.

Arya Retreat Invitation by Arya’s Team

Transformation may be the one immutable fact in life; psychologically understood, this is a subtle, quite and introspective process for which humans could change and become the better version of themselves. Ancient cultures around the world and in Mexico specially, had many stories to explain the journey to fulfilling one’s destiny and experiencing wholeness. Joseph Campbell described them as “calls to adventure”, to embark with all our being and initiate the process of gaining self-understanding and discovering our true self by being vulnerable and without ego.

SELF PORTRAIT only you can tell your story, served as an individual quest in the retreat; a great opportunity for deep analyse and self-exploration, sailing our deep oceans in a singular voyage.

Art Piece by Tania Villanueva

Illustration by Paulina González Miy

By interweaving Frida’s artworks and literature to their personal lives as catalysts of inclusion, I stimulated intergenerational dialogue among the participants from diverse walks of life, around themes of autobiographical experiences. An opportunity to express our intimate voices translated into a unique, memorable trip; soulful music performances by Bumi, interlaced our different personalities into a whole rite of commitment and metaphysical re-birth.

Together, we rediscover our lives and vitalize the inner fire, which is our heart. This symbol like the sun is the central source of life itself, the house of memory and truth, and the seat of all emotions. The Maya and the Aztec cultures, same like the artist Kahlo, revered it as a sacred element, in order to understand real transmutation and resilience.

Illustration by Paulina González Miy

Phto by Maximo Serdán

Have you ever thought what is it like to be a woman, migrating from one emotional state to another, in pursuit of harmony and joy, despite failure, betrayal or painful situations? How does it feel to be called for an expedition, embracing life in all its colours and shades, from the very dark to the very bright…?

Well, if you look at any self portrait of Frida Kahlo, you will be able to see the answer, to get to know a woman, a warrior, a body with physical limitations, emotional suffering and turmoil, but over all, an unbreakable spirit that demonstrates courage, strength and a motto along her life: Viva la Vida! (Love of life, life seeing as a daily celebration).

Photo by Nicolas Murray

Today you will look at a body of work taken 2 years ago in the land of the Ottoman Empire, a living book where unique stories are expressed through self-portraiture; women removed from origin, profession, civil status or religion, showing their own passages in their emotional territories; feminine narratives captured in front of a camera, embodying Frida’s art and spirit. A self-representation in which, they rendered their brave quest, facing the present, and the spectator, fearless.

Photos by Bumi Thomas & Mafalda Budib

I believe in second births, in women´s own achievements to navigate the waters of her psyche after a long odyssey, becoming stronger after facing the storms, heavy waters and strong winds. Each one of us is in constant flow and evolution, metamorphosing from the painful cocoons to become beautiful butterflies.

Aren’t we?

Illustrations by Paulina González Miy

From today on, I invite you to reflect on your own personal live as an expedition, envisioning it as unique and meaningful possible. Two years ago in Casa Hermanas and Casa Dell’Arte we were together, mirroring each other and understanding our purposes in life. Today, beyond time or distance we are all here again, facing our challenges in many arenas, embracing all, and understanding like Frida Kahlo, how only you, can tell your story by saying Viva la Vida! No matter the pain, challenge or risk…