During the quarantine, I came to the conclusion that life and creation in lockdown made me feel a bit chained to bed, without being able to move, depending on external factors. I had to stay in the tight space of my room without being able to leave it for no reason. It reminded me of the life and post-accident experience of a painter whose art is particularly close to me - Frida Kahlo, actually Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón, because despite the fact that we know her as 'Frida', her first name was the same as mine.

Feminism, which has become the subject of her paintings many times, is also an important subject to me. Her works do not allow sexualization of a woman. Her art is a symbol of constant struggle and opposition to the accepted rules of the dominant ideology, disregarding the significance and potential of women, and displaying in the images of human blood is a manifestation of emancipation. I decided to create a photoshoot in costumes designed by me, on which I painted illustrations that are the reinterpretations of Frida's most important paintings. I also wanted to take some characteristic elements of Mexican / Polish folk and transpose them into the present day. A look inspired by a folk costume in a modernised version needs an appropriate setting, which is why my series was captured in the 'idyllic and natural' countryside landscape, which is closer to artificiality than to ideas of city people about the fullness of nature.


Illustrations on fabric / design / styling / make-up / hair / photography: Magdalena Zając
Model: Ewa Zając