As a tribute it somehow makes complete sense, especially when one considers what made Frida Kahlo such an icon.

Interestingly, there’s one thing you won’t find in Frida Kahlo: The Immersive Biography, which is headed to Vancouver this May. Expecting large-scale recreations of seminal works like The Two Fridas, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, and The Wounded Deer? If so, better to seek out the originals, which means making plans to visit the Harry Ransom Center in Texas, the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City, or make friends with Carolyn Farb.

Somewhat fittingly, given Kahlo’s legacy as renegade, Frida Kahlo: The Immersive Biography takes a noticeably different approach than travelling 3-D extravaganzas like Imagine Van Gogh, Imagine Picasso, and Imagine Monet. Instead of showcasing digital renditions of the Mexican icon’s paintings, the exhibit captures the spirit of her work through historical photos, old films, collector’s items, and original music and art installations.

Featuring seven different spaces that trace her life and artistic growth, the exhibit is co-produced by the Frida Kahlo Corporation and Spain’s Layers of Reality digital arts centre. Those who prefer altered reality to standard reality can also opt for an additional VR experience.

“Today, the Frida Kahlo brand is considered one of the most significant and renowned on the planet, which has enabled us to venture into new cultural and commercial projects with a global, innovative, and disruptive approach, similar to how Frida lived her everyday life,” Frida Kahlo Corporation spokeswoman Beatriz Alvarado said in a release. “Consequently, we aim to create a space that portrays Frida Kahlo in an authentic, genuine, and comprehensive manner, incorporating diverse sources of information.”

Admittedly, that sounds a bit stilted given the revolutionary who inspired the exhibit, and Kahlo would be the first to note that, but you get the idea. And, as much as anyone, Kahlo would love the word disruptive, as well as conditioning art fans to expect the unexpected. 

Frida Kahlo: The Immersive Biography opens at the PNE Agrodome on May 3. General public tickets are now on sale at TicketLeader.ca. For more information visit fridakahlovancouver.com.