In the heart of Mexico City lies a place revered by art enthusiasts and history aficionados alike — the Frida Kahlo Museum, known fondly as La Casa Azul, or the Blue House.
And this year marks the museum's 65th anniversary.
For decades, this iconic haven has been a sanctuary for the exploration of art, culture, and the intimate life of the enigmatic Frida Kahlo, drawing millions of visitors from across the globe, according to the museum.
This month, Casa Azul celebrated a first: a one-of-a-kind curated gift for future visitors and staff. And we’ll have to wait 35 years to see it.
Frida Kahlo’s Time Capsule
To honor its 65-year anniversary, Casa Azul curated a 2023 celebration, the temporary exhibit “A Place Full of Places," made up of exhibitions to conferences to workshops.
A highlight of this commemoration unfolded on December 14, as the museum buried a time capsule within its hallowed patio — a metal box designed to remain unearthed for the next 35 years, on the museum’s 100th anniversary.
“ … they decided to preserve some memories so that in the future, when new generations are at the head of the museum, it opens and remembers the society of 2023,” the outlet InfoBae reports.
Scheduled to be opened on July 30, 2058, coinciding with the centenary celebration of the Blue House, the capsule encapsulates the essence from this historic year at Casa Azul.
From what we know, within the confines of this sealed metal box are snapshots of the activities and workshops conducted in 2023, offering a glimpse into the creative fervor that adorned the museum's halls.
Plus, the capsule houses a commemorative postal stamp, an ode to the museum's participation in international exhibitions, highlighting its global significance.
Adding to the time capsule celebration was the "El Coyoacán by Frida" walking tour, offering a curated journey through the locales beloved by Kahlo, inviting participants to walk in Kahlo's footsteps.
About Frida Kahlo’s “Private Universe”
“The Casa Azul (Blue House) is Frida Kahlo’s private universe,” the museum’s website explains. “She spent most of her life here, first with her family and, years later, at Diego Rivera’s side. They hosted a fascinating array of luminaries from Mexico and abroad, drawn by the charisma of both artists.”
Entance of La Casa Azul, by Éclusette, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Kahlo and her husband, painter Diego Rivera planned to immortalize their home as a museum — a cultural treasure accessible to all Mexicans. Following Kahlo's passing, the responsibility to curate this extraordinary space fell upon the capable hands of Carlos Pellicer, a dear friend, museographer, and poet, entrusted with the design of the exhibitions that would echo the essence of these revered artists.
The administration of the cultural gem was vested in a trust, the Fideicomiso de los Museos Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo, overseen by the central bank, Banco de México.
Conceived by Diego Rivera himself in 1957, this trust stood as a guardian, ensuring the preservation and celebration of the Casa Azul's legacy for generations to come.
In July 1958, the Casa Azul opened its doors to the world, unveiling not just a house but a living tapestry that intertwined personal artifacts, captivating paintings by Kahlo and Rivera, a trove of folk art, Pre-Columbian sculptures, photographs, documents, literature, and furniture — each piece a testament to the ambiance that fueled Frida's creative spirit.
“Here every corner tells the story of your resilience and unbreakable spirit. For Frida, her home was also a refuge,” the museum writes.
The kitchen in the Frida Kahlo Museum; Anagoria, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Visiting Mexico City?
The Blue House is located at 247 London Street, Colonia Del Carmen, Coyoacán.
The “Place full of Places” anniversary exhibit runs until January 14, 2024.
For those eager to partake in this celebration, the Frida Kahlo Museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, offering varying operating hours. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, the doors are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Wednesdays extend the museum's embrace from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Join us every Friday in celebrating the enigma that was Frida Kahlo – a woman who dared to be unapologetically herself.
