The artwork destruction constitutes a violent act towards the legacy of the artist and a crime.
Grecia Pérez Calderón
Founder of Ellas Artes, specialist on art and gender.
The following editorial is based on a video opinion published by the author in the Latin American feminist magazine Volcánicas, 1 October, 2022. See original here or below.
On July 30th, 2022 businessman Martin Mobarak ignited a firestorm of controversy by burning a work of art by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The piece in question, titled «Fantasmones Siniestros» or «Sinister Ghosts» was a part of Kahlo’s personal diary.
According to the website of the project, the artwork had previously been digitized and converted into NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). In essence, the physical artwork disappeared, and its value transferred to digital assets in a bid to generate further profits. Mobarak went on to put a staggering 10,000 NFTs up for sale.
He argued that a percentage of the proceeds would be donated to charitable causes. However, I consider this as a mere justification and a marketing campaign to sell the NFTs. Mobarak himself acknowledged the controversy surrounding his actions, in an interview he stated: «It’s something that will generate controversy, so with this, we can guarantee the success of this project.»
However, beyond controversy, Mobarak’s actions constitute a legal issue. The artwork is considered part of Mexico’s artistic heritage, and its destruction constitutes a crime according to article 52 of the Mexican Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic, and Historic Zones. Mexican government is already investigating the incident.
A study of the artwork published on the website of the project indicated that «Fantasmones Siniestros» was once part of the Gelman Collection, one of the foremost collections of Mexican art. I found the artwork featured in the 2004 catalogue titled “The Gelman Collection: Selections. Mexican and contemporary art from the collection of Jacques and Natasha Gelman”. The catalogue is available at the Institute of Aesthetic Research, National University of Mexico.
I consider the burning of a Frida Kahlo artwork is not only controversial but also a violent act. This is especially true considering Kahlo’s status as a women artist who has often been the target of negative commentary and articulated criticism stemming from misogyny.
The world does not need more businessmen disguising their businesses as philanthropy, nor does it need eccentric individuals who flout the law and destroy the art of great women artists.
See original video opinion in Spanish:
Ellas Artes 