Is Fridas image Being Exploited?
MEXICO CITY – The only surviving members of Frida Kahlo’s family have established a company that seeks to become a “regulatory agency” in order to control the massive commercial exploitation of the image and name of the Mexican artist, who has become a national and cultural symbol of Mexico. “Frida-mania” started in the early 1990s and got another big push following the movie portraying the life of the artist, played by Salma Hayek in 2002. This year, it has increased again due to the 100 year celebration of her birth, and the 50 year anniversary of the death of her companion, artist Diego Rivera (1886-1957). Frida Kahlo Corporation (FKC), formed by the daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter of Cristina Kahlo, Frida’s sister, was established after they learned they had rights over the name and image of the artist. FKC, a registered trademark, issues licenses to companies that want to use Frida’s name and image on certain products in exchange for a commission on sales, of about
