The Torrlösa happening is a popular anual event started in 2000 by the Swedish artist Bengt Backlund. The place is his house and garden.The numerous public can enjoy the performance of many artists, dansers and musicians. Good homemade food is served. The event goes on for 5-6 hours. My participation I presented the short film Meeting Frida Kahlo and invited the public to participate in the project by interacting with Fridas’painting and the concept of the film with a picture, a poem or an object. I hung copies of the frame of Frida’s painting so that the participants could put their images in them. Those who were anable to be present the day of the happening and wanted to participate were (and still are) very welcome to send a picture to ximena@narea.se Bengt Backlund presented a (190x120 cm) painting in which he portraited the leader of the ultraconcervative party SD (Sweden Democrats), Jimmie Åkersson, and Frida Kahlo arm in arm. Åkesson, who made his way into the political Swedish scene by an extreme xenophobic propaganda speech, is dressed in a traditional Swedish costume while Frida, representing the immigrants, is dressed in black, as a shadow. In her hand she holds a real red rose. The faces of the two characters are cut off and can be removed so that the public can take their places and take fany pictures. This kind of images can be seen in amusement and theme parks. Next to the painting Backlund had prepared a black space where the audience was invited to improvise a gesture with Frida's rose. Some of those gestures are included in this animation |
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