I first encountered Frida Kahlo when I was 17, in my high school art class. My teacher showed us the movie Frida, and though the details were a bit blurred, she remained in my memory as an incredible woman who built her own artistic world despite countless accidents and betrayals.
About seven or eight years have passed since then, and I recently faced her life and herself once again—this time at the Frida Kahlo Museum (La Casa Azul) in Coyoacán, Mexico.
While touring her house, from her birth to death, an unknown, heavy emotion settled in my mind. And I could feel a certain power. Her body and spirit were more intense than any others, and that strength is expressed in her paintings as it is. Frida's colorful works make us feel her emotions and take a deep dive into her world. I believe that’s why she continues to be summoned across diverse artistic media. Today, I’ll introduce a musical, a ballet, and an opera about Frida one by one.
1. <Frida> Musical
This is a Korean musical that performed between 2022 and 2025. It features four characters, including Frida herself, all of whom symbolize her inner emotions. Refleja means "mirror," signifying her husband Diego while also representing her inner self. Destino stands for death, appearing whenever she goes through pain and trials. Memoria is Frida’s childhood self, connecting the past and present while representing hope and purity. These four characters lead the audience to look deep into her heart. Their interaction is a clever directorial tool that vividly portrays a whirlpool of emotions.
The musical has energetic numbers to portray a resilient Frida’s spirit. Among them, the number ‘Corset’ captures the moment where she refuses to give up and rises once more. It describes the corset as an armor that can protect her even against flying bullets, showing her resolution to never be broken by any ordeal.
Most people who know Frida are aware of the tragedies she faced. However, this musical is impressive because it focuses on her inner world rather than just telling each episode, delivering her fierce energy straight to the audience.
2. <Frida> Ballet
This is a ballet performance by the Dutch National Ballet, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa in 2022. It was truly refreshing to see Frida’s story through dancing. Expressing her life and emotions through movement offers a unique inspiration and a whole new experience to the audience. Especially, as seen in the trailer, the scene where she is stuck within a bed frame vividly captures her pain; it reflects the tragic accident where a pipe pierced her body, leaving her bedridden and unable to move for a long time.
In the final scene, she dances with Diego, her mentor and lover. But their dance isn't purely happy, as he was the source of her pain in reality. The skulls, reflecting Mexican culture, and her colorful, iconic style immerse the audience deeply into the performance. This wordless performance, expressed only through movement, reveals a paradox—restrained yet explosive. This irony mirrors Frida herself, who became an incredible painter by capturing the very essence of her tragic life on canvas.
3. <El último sueño de Frida y Diego> Opera
This is the first Spanish-language opera premiered in San Diego, highlighting the reunion of Frida and Diego. Unlike the two works mentioned earlier, this production incorporates fantastical elements rather than simply retracing her biography. In Mexico, there is a tradition called "The Day of the Dead," when people believe the spirits of the deceased return. Diego, longing for Frida who passed away before him, finally meets her again on this day. Set against the backdrop of the afterlife, the opera captures their moments together for just 24 hours.
Also, they expressed the Mexico she lived in vividly and plentifully. Actually, Diego is the one who gave pain to Frida, but he is an unforgettable existence in her life and paintings, as they married twice. This opera presents another story of theirs that could have been a reality to the audience.
Does this little, smart girl know? That she will lead a life as raging as a storm, beyond anything she could ever imagine. At the same time, that her very existence will become an inspiration and a lasting influence for countless women and artists.
Frida entered a prestigious school where only 35 students were female out of 2,000, and her grades were excellent. She was naturally curious about many different fields and dreamed of becoming a doctor while studying biology and anatomy. Sometimes I imagine—what would have happened if she had made different choices? Would she have been able to enjoy her life for much longer?
She was always proud of being Mexican. She insisted on wearing traditional clothing and filled her house with her own unique taste. I could feel her touch in every corner, from the garden to the kitchen.
She kept drawing even from her wheelchair. Only the course of nature—death—could have made her stop. She truly lived her life to the fullest until the dark shadow finally approached her.
I faced her final painting at the very end of my tour. I wondered how such cycles of joy and sorrow could exist in one short life, and I couldn't help but admire her. Where does the strength to endure such hardships and still shout ‘Viva la Vida’ come from? She always mirrored herself. Even when an iron pipe pierced her body or when those she loved betrayed her, she captured that pain on canvas, comforting herself through her art.
We realize that vitality is powerful, and human will is even stronger than we imagine. In a world full of things that logic alone cannot explain, Frida’s life teaches us: To be alive is a victory.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts as well. Although this is my first article and a bit unpolished, I hope it inspires you to remember Frida and feel the pulse of your own lives.
