Frida Kahlo/Cindy Sherman/Cui Xiuwen Discussion

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo produced some very intriguing artwork that focused on the female figure, much in the same way that Cindy Sherman and Cui Xiuwen depicted women in their pieces. However, Kahlo's work is different for a number of reasons. Of the three artists, Kahlo can be considered to be the most "traditionally artistic", using oil paints and more traditional methods to produce her art. Although she was creating art in a more traditional way, her work still exhibits an interesting combination of surrealism and realism that Sherman and Xiuwen touch on less. Also, Frida Kahlo's artwork reflects a certain self-portrait style, that is much more apparent in her paintings than the other two artists' photographs. In these two ways, Kahlo's work is more overtly symbolic, and gives off a feeling of intention. Using herself in her paintings to express her suffering was almost an act of placing herself as a representative of women in society.

Cindy Sherman

Unlike Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman used the medium of photography to express herself. However, though they differed in method, their messages were quite similar. Both artists attempted to expose the image and role of women in society. Like Kahlo, Sherman uses herself in her work, yet not as a representative but in the different roles of women. Using the style of the "film still", she creates an atmosphere of a scene out of her photographs that implies a story or a past. While less surreal than both Kahlo and Xiuwen's artwork, her photographs display their messages clearly and each share a link between them.

Cui Xiuwen

Cui Xiuwen, uses much different artistic techniques than those of Frida Kahlo and Cindy Sherman. While both Kahlo and Sherman exhibit very traditional means of creating their artwork, Xiuwen uses digital media to give an often surreal and strange quality to her photographs. This is the link that Xiuwen shares with Frida Kahlo; both of their art has a surreal side, while still commenting on women in society. Xiuwen's "Angel" series is very interesting because it uses the same model to express a number of different roles women take on, much like Cindy Sherman's film still series. For instance, the above photograph displays an image of motherhood while others reflect innocence or family. It is clear that Xiuwen views women (or this particular woman) as pure and fragile; angelic.