Metaverse Art Week Included a Special Treat for Frida Kahlo Fans: a Virtual Recreation of Her Red House and Personal Belongings

Little-known objects and ephemera belonging to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo went on display last week as part of Decentraland’s third-annual Metaverse Art Week, which was held held between August 24-28. 

The house and installation in Decentraland includes nearly 800 different pieces that Kahlo used in her everyday life and in her art, many of which were held in a private family residence, unseen by the public until last week. 

A detailed recreation of Kahlo’s red house in Mexico was created virtually by Ezel.Life, a digital asset company that “focuses on maximizing the value of original artwork.” It developed the installation together with Kahlo family relatives. 

The digital recreation represented the house’s first 20 years. “It sets up a lot of her struggles and adversities, but also her drive and passion for life; between polio, coming of age, and a major bus accident,” said Luke McFarlane, co-founder of Ezel, in a statement. 

Frida Kahlo’s family metaverse was designed as “an inclusive space that celebrates her life and legacy, while unearthing her untold stories,” added Pedro Quinzaños, co-founder and CEO of Ezel.

Founded in 2020, Decentraland is one of the best-known 3D metaverse browser-based platforms in existence. It runs on the MANA cryptocurrency, tethered to the Ethereum blockchain, which enables to collect and build digital assets like land, estate, avatars, wearables, art, galleries, and museums. 

In an interview with the Cointelegraph, Quinzaños said the family initially had some reservations about releasing personal information to the public that had been stored in the house, but ultimately decided that the blockchain would ensure Kahlo’s work and life could be enjoyed for generations to come. 

“When I started talking to Mara [the great grand niece of Frida Kahlo], there was some resistance from the family,” Quinzaños said. “Blockchain is a perfect tool to really lock in the real story from the family and get it out there without having any type of changes from the media or third party.”

Alongside Kahlo’s house, Decentraland’s third annual art week also included an event hosted by Artnet’s director of NFTs, Jiayin Chen, which featured A.I. poetry readings and performances spread over the festival’s five days.