If you are interested in visiting Diego Rivera: Murals for the Museum of Modern Art — the show that opened this weekend at MoMA, consisting of a group of "portable murals" originally painted by Diego Rivera for his solo exhibition at the same museum in 1931 — you might be wondering about the artist's life. Where did he live? Where did he work? What was his personal style?
Here is a quick peek at the studio/house the artist commissioned for himself and his wife, Frida Kahlo, in 1931 in the San Angel neighborhood in Mexico City. It is one of the earliest modernist buildings in Mexico.
The idea was to create a living/work space for both artists that would accommodate each one's needs. Designed by Mexican architect and artist, Juan O'Gorman, the final project consisted of two studio/houses (one for Diego and one for Frida) joined by a bridge.
Inspired by the Modernist ideas of Le Corbusier, the buildings were designed in a "Functionalist" style that includes Le Corbusier's 5 points of architecture: freestanding support pillars (pilotis), an open floor plan, a vertical façade free from supports, long horizontal windows and a roof terrace.
Although the buildings are deliberately un-ornamented the interiors are still very warm, with wooden floors and abundant sunlight flooding in from the large windows (perfect for a painter's studio!).
The decoration is very simple, with a few pieces of wooden and metallic green-colored furniture and a large number of handcrafts, including paper-maché devils and skeletons, and a collection of ceramic pots and pre-Columbian figurines.
Today, the studio/house is a museum which also holds exhibitions about Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Juan O'Gorman and their contemporaries.
Images: Omar Bárcena via flickr. Used with permission.
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Comments (9)
I love it there, and have always thought that the set up is *the* way to live with another person! (Not that they were the greatest couple to emulate...)
we stayed in Diego Rivera's house in Acapulco on our honeymoon in 1975. the estate was being managed by a couple who had worked for him for many years and just by chance we met them. we moved out of our hotel into the cliffside house for two weeks.
for another perspective on this house, read Barbara Kingsolver's 'The Lacuna' I'm reading it right now so this post is very timely. Funny contrast to the description in the book
@bextabikes what's the book's take on the house?
i agree that this is a great way to cohabitate, especially for two very strong personalities, and i'm definitely jealous of the windows and high ceilings. any idea what the fence is made out of?
Living alone, I could imagine living in a fairly small space, if it was well designed. Living with my partner (both of us with strong personalities), we need more than twice the space, because we each need space of our own - to do whatever, and to just be away from the other. "A room of one's own," indeed.
@planetaclaire i think they are cactus. but i can't seem to find if they are real, wood or metal
@planetclaire and suemey -- You're right. The fence is made of real cactus. It's very common to see cacti used as fences in fields in the Mexican countryside. The architect, Juan O'Gorman was inspired, I think, by those traditional rural cacti fences when he designed Diego and Frida's casa/estudio.
The cacti are real, amazing to look at in real life, and the house is located in a very busy neigborhood. I can't remember what year the house was built but it was definitely ahead of it time!
Great Post!! Coincidentally I'm studying the architecture of Juan O'Gorman. This is considered one of his early gems! Thank you!!