The family of the world-renowned artist Frida Kahlo has unveiled a collection of previously unseen artwork and memorabilia related to the artist in the metaverse. The exhibition, which took place during Metaverse Art Week in Decentraland, allows users to explore the art and listen to personal stories shared by Kahlo’s close family members in a digital replica of the “Red House.” This virtual representation mirrors the real-life Red House owned by the family in Mexico City.
In the metaverse version of the Red House, each room provides insights into lesser-known aspects of Kahlo’s life before her well-known relationship with Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Luke McFarlane, co-founder of Ezel, the company responsible for the archival materials, explained that the family initially had reservations about sharing personal information with the public. However, due to the impact of the global pandemic and internal family developments, they decided to embrace emerging technologies to preserve stories that might otherwise be lost. Recognizing the potential of blockchain technology, Pedro Quinzaños Cancino, a friend of the Kahlo family and co-founder of Ezel, saw an opportunity to utilize it.
Ezel’s founders have curated a collection of nearly 800 items that belonged to Frida, including sketches, original artwork, and objects from her daily life. Each piece has been meticulously scanned using high-resolution image capturing tools, which require a minimum of 30 different images and videos.
The integration of metaverse technology and interactive experiences offers a fresh way to engage with Frida’s art. Cancino emphasized that the real-life Red House remains a private family residence and that, apart from the metaverse version, they have no intention of turning it into a museum. This differs from the Blue House (Casa Azul), which used to receive over half a million visitors annually prior to the pandemic.
However, the quality of images and avatars in the digital world remains a challenge. This has been evident in previous events like Metaverse Fashion Week, also hosted in Decentraland. Nevertheless, the team at Ezel is prioritizing storytelling and archiving for now, enabling users to immerse themselves in culture and art in a unique and completely immersive way.