GERRIE MIFSUD ART

frida reimagined: threads of her, voices of her

This portrait series is a contemporary tribute to the enduring legacy of Frida Kahlo - an artist whose life and work embodied pain, power, and protest. Known for her self-fashioning and deeply symbolic imagery, Kahlo used colour not just as decoration, but as defiance. Her vivid palettes were acts of resistance—against patriarchy, colonialism, and erasure.

Each portrait reinterprets Frida’s iconic visual language through the lens of multicultural women today. Colour is used deliberately, not just to celebrate, but to defy. Styled in thrifted and repurposed garments, each subject wears contemporary renditions of Kahlo’s bold signatures: floral crowns, striking prints, and layered adornments.

Every portrait includes a symbolic object or motif that reflects the subject’s cultural heritage—subtle or overt reminders of ancestral stories and personal identity.

Through this work, I aim to create a space where women of diverse heritage can be seen in their fullness - powerful, and present, and like Frida, they reject invisibility. Their portraits speak of endurance and heritage using fashion and colour not only to express, but to resist.

FRIDA REIMAGINED:
THREADS OF HER, VOICES OF US

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ORNAMENTAL

Driven by my love and respect for diverse cultures and their traditional attire, I created a photography series that blends traditional Chinese dress, such as Hanfu, with Miao accessories and Tibetan dress and vibrant colours. I incorporated intricate Chinese ornamental designs, typically seen on vases, onto the models' bodies, adding a unique artistic layer to the imagery.

The backdrop, with its oil painting texture, lends a vintage aesthetic to each composition.

This series honours Chinese craftsmanship and heritage, offering a visual celebration that elegantly bridges the old with the new, paying sophisticated homage to Chinese culture.

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kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is a portrait series that weaves together diverse styles to celebrate the richness of multiculturalism in Australia.

This work features an array of fabric elements from various cultures, paired with models from multicultural backgrounds, to showcase the beauty of global traditions.

Through this vibrant series, I aim to honour cultural heritage, highlight the diversity that defines us, and embrace the kaleidoscope of colours that unites humanity.

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WHAT REMAINS

What Remains is a portrait series capturing the lingering ache of loss in the aftermath of World War II's Parisian occupation, inspired by the quiet intensity and emotional depth of the film Lee.

Each diptych juxtaposes two images: a portrait of a man or woman, their posture and expression conveying a deep, melancholic sadness, and a still life of a side table laden with the personal effects of their missing loved one – a worn photograph, a cherished letter, a half-finished piece of knitting. These objects become silent witnesses, embodying the absent presence that haunts the living.

Through these intimate glimpses into personal grief, the series transcends its historical context, becoming a poignant narrative for the countless families separated by war, even today. The quiet desperation and unanswered questions reflected in the faces of these Parisians resonate with the ongoing pain of conflict around the globe, reminding us that the wounds of war extend far beyond the battlefield and linger for generations.