As I walked into “Mexican Geniuses, A Frida and Diego Immersive Experience,” I felt as I had  been transported into the warm and vibrant culture of Mexico. Initially, I did not think the exhibit would vary that much from a traditional art museum, however, I soon realized that this experience would be like no other. The museum creatively uses lighting design and sound effects to illustrate the history of two iconic Mexican artists and their marriage. As their story unfolds, the emotional tale of their love story and how their art was impacted by the trauma they endured is told.

The immersive experience exceeds expectations. Through displaying over 300 pieces of art, the exhibit educates consumers in the most beautiful way possible. 

The exhibit is located in Northeast Washington, D.C. along with only one other location in London. Tickets cost $36 and visits are approximately one hour and 30 minutes. 

The first room is dedicated to Rivera. It tells the story of his upbringing, and how his deep passion for art began at the mere age of three. The walls are filled with his work – both frescos and his favorite pre-Columbian figures. Additionally, the video on the walls tells the story of his political background as a leader of the Mexican Communist party. His political affiliations clearly affect his artwork as he painted murals for the working class highlighting the social inequity surrounding them. The features of the first room set an authentic tone, as each item in the room is curated to depict his life story, ranging from the popular Mexican music, to the chairs that were handcrafted by Mexican artists and imported to be in the museum. 

The second room tells the story of the beginnings of Kahlo. As you walk in, the surroundings are vastly different from the first room. One huge wall contains quotes from her diary, explaining how art was her form of therapy. Kahlo used art to work through her past traumas, including a deadly bus crash that caused her to be infertile and Rivera’s infidelity in their marriage. Similarly to Rivera, her role as a communist leader in Mexico is explored in this room. 

As the story of Rivera and Kahlo develops, the third room depicts the story of their marriage. The room includes artifacts from the beginning of their marriage, including their wedding menu and dining tables filled with a timeline of their relationship. 

Finally, the fourth room held the “immersive” experience. As you walked in, panels of light surrounded you, and projections of famous artwork would travel through the floor and onto the walls as music and storytelling played in the background. A 40-minute video told the stories of Mexican political, musical, and social movements from the diary of Kahlo and the words of Rivera. Immersing myself in this experience made Kahlo’s life story feel more real to me. Although I had seen much of her artwork, this gave me more clarity behind the creation of each piece, allowing me to enjoy the exhibit more.

Afterward, the fifth room holds a giant dry-erase board with opportunities to fill colors in as well as photo-op opportunities. This was a fun way to end as it lets visitors explore through art. Additionally, there is an option to participate in the “VR” experience, which is not necessary because the art exhibit is already very immersive. 

The Kahlo and Rivera art exhibit is the perfect way to learn about how art was depicted in a radical communist group, and how it was used to spread the message of the Mexican communist party. This exhibit has an authentic Mexican feel and is definitely worth the visit.