Merry Robertson

Frida’s Flora

MODEL Jen Mitchell

ARTIST STATEMENT This garment has been created by drawing on the visual artworks of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It has been imagined that Frida has visited the Great Southern and discovered and fallen in love with our beautiful coastal flora. She has gathered it, coloured it in a Mexican style and adorned her Mexican clothing with it. The fabric birds attached to the upper arms also pay homage to Frida, who often painted her self portraits with birds resting on her shoulders. The turban headdress and its floral attachments reference Frida’s love of wearing floral decorations on her head. Merry hopes that viewers of the artwork will be whisked away to colourful Mexico to dance and celebrate the colourful and creative works of Frida Kahlo.

MATERIALS/TECHNIQUES 60 multi coloured discs covered with over 500 pieces of painted flora added to an existing South American patchwork skirt, Panama embroidered top and apron