Katarzyna Niwinska’s ‘Rainbow Frida’ Photosession

I want to share with you the latest photos of one of my favorite female artists – Katarzyna Niwińska.

The photos are presenting a beautiful girl in colorful clothes and flowers in her hair.

After a moment, I have noticed that the model has colored eyebrows. After a few days, when I have found more photos on the photographer’s Instagram. I have noticed that with the change of outfits, the color of the eyebrows is different.

More info: Instagram

Katarzyna Niwinska's 'Rainbow Frida' Photosession

Image credits: katarzynaniwinska

Here’s what she said on her Instagram:

“‘We are different like the colors of the rainbow, but we have to be strong, and we have to believe in ourselves.’ The Christmas issue of @gladysmagazine with our editorial ‘The Colors of Frida’ has just appeared in the US. The famous painter was played by @karolinaburian, the make-up was made by @radzevich.makeup, the @pitala.and.pitala created the costumes, and @majsonstudio was assisted. This is not my first editorial in which I refer to the LGBT topic, but the first in which I comment on this topic. The photos were taken at a time when the government attacked the LGBT community in Poland. I wanted to show my opposition by highlighting the colors of the rainbow in makeup and costumes and the bisexual figure of Frida Kahlo as the heroine of the story. Additionally, Karolina’s poses are a direct reference to the painter’s original photos.”

Katarzyna Niwinska's 'Rainbow Frida' Photosession

Image credits: katarzynaniwinska

I have decided to ask the author how she created her series of photos.

“The idea came during the spring lockdown when I saw on Instagram wonderful costumes of the duo Pitala & Pitala. These incredibly capable girls created a unique series of beautiful clothes, impossible to pass with indifference.

The outfits immediately reminded me of Frida Kahlo, whose house I had visited virtually a few days earlier, admiring the amazing colors of this place. The artist’s silhouette has recently become quite a popular culture theme; we can see her image on T-shirts or bags, with her characteristic eyebrows marked.

However, I have not yet encountered anyone showing them differently than in the form of dark thick arches. I’m not too fond of literal and cheap sensation, especially in photography. Even though I mainly create fashion shoots, I try to follow one principle -there is always a story in the pictures. For a long time, I’ve been thinking about creating something that will refer to my beliefs, not just the culture and art form, which I usually photograph. This time, I have decided to refer to the LGBT community because it is the most important thing you are, not what orientation you are.

Katarzyna Niwinska's 'Rainbow Frida' Photosession

Image credits: katarzynaniwinska

It doesn’t matter what your skin color is or what you profess. I came to the conclusion that since Frida was bisexual, I can create her character with color eyebrows, expressing support for the LGBT movement. Frida was a powerful woman who struggled with health problems every day but was not afraid to be herself. (Of course, I know about her communist beliefs, but it is not important here.) You can see a beautiful girl In the photos who symbolizes Frida Kahlo. It is symbolic because she is not like herself, nor is she dressed in typical clothes. Direct reference is the artist’s typical hairstyle, the poses – I took them from original photos taken by the painter, and eyebrows – rainbow ones for me. Another reference is the strong orange background and leaves on it – in many paintings.

Katarzyna Niwinska's 'Rainbow Frida' Photosession

Image credits: katarzynaniwinska

In the background of Frida, we can see plants. Through those rainbow eyebrows, rainbow colors of costumes, I refer to the rainbow flag, through the character – to be strong and brave.

When I was working on the photo session, the presidential elections took place in Poland, and politicians have inspired attacks on LGBT communities. Now, as I write these words, another draft of parliamentary regulation was passed to the parliament, and women’s rights are also under attack.

Women hold protests in the streets every day. I want to tell everyone whose rights are being broken that everyone has the right to be happy and free here despite being different. We must be strong and believe in ourselves!”

Katarzyna Niwinska's 'Rainbow Frida' Photosession