Frida Kahlo , Making herself up exhibit,
This was a brilliant display of Fridas personal belongings in particular adornment, including a beautiful layered and riveted conch shell bangle dating back to 250-900AD and many of Kahlo's incredible headdresses
Of special interest to me was one of Kahlo’s favorite possessions a string of over-sized jade beads, which she frequently wore. Diego Riviera acquired these Beads as part of a pre-Colombian art collection. They came from Mayan burial sites south eastern Mexico . Which Kahlo Reassembled into necklace. Wearing these beads would have be a vernacular and political choice for Kahlo and direct connection with her history.
It was strange to leave the exhibit and head directly into the gift shop this illustrated to again the common place cultural appropriation , commodification of the votive, milagros other cultural artefact into souvenir.
This was a brilliant display of Fridas personal belongings in particular adornment, including a beautiful layered and riveted conch shell bangle dating back to 250-900AD and many of Kahlo's incredible headdresses
Of special interest to me was one of Kahlo’s favorite possessions a string of over-sized jade beads, which she frequently wore. Diego Riviera acquired these Beads as part of a pre-Colombian art collection. They came from Mayan burial sites south eastern Mexico . Which Kahlo Reassembled into necklace. Wearing these beads would have be a vernacular and political choice for Kahlo and direct connection with her history.
It was strange to leave the exhibit and head directly into the gift shop this illustrated to again the common place cultural appropriation , commodification of the votive, milagros other cultural artefact into souvenir.
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Another Highlight of the day was the much anticpated William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery which displays a staggering 3,500 jewels from the V&A's jewellery collection. showing work which spans the generations
 coral tiara |  |  Brooch, Lucy Sarneel |