Main content

Frida Kahlo, Fly by Night, Queer Eye, Cats in literature

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in a major new exhibition. Plus the presence of cats in literature, from Keats to TS Eliot, 1500 pigeons create a work of art and Queer Eye on TV.

The V&A's latest exhibition includes 13 artworks by the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, but far more of her colourful skirts, blouses and pieces of jewellery because Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up concentrates on Kahlo's greatest creation - the artist herself. Design critic Corinne Julius considers what it reveals about the famous modern Latin American artist and our attitude to her.

When we think of John Keats, we mostly think of Odes, Grecian Urns, Nightingales, and Autumn - we certainly don't think of cats. 200 years after Keats wrote his little-known comic gem To Mrs Reynolds's Cat, we consider the place of cats in literature - from Hemingway to Colette, and Stephen King to Tove Janssen. Cat-lover and writer Lynne Truss and literary historian John Bowen consider the relationship between writers and their feline 'mewses' and asks what makes a 'purr-fect' piece of cat prose?

1500 pigeons with small LED lights attached to their legs representing the messages they would once have carried over the battlefields of the First World War are the latest work by the American artist Duke Riley, who brings his performance piece Fly by Night to the UK for the first time. The work's co-ordinator Kitty Joe describes the event.

As the second series of Queer Eye launches on Netflix, writer Louis Wise assesses the show's popularity.

Presenter Stig Abell
Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Frida Kahlo

    Duration: 05:31

  • Cats in Literature

    Duration: 09:36

  • Fly By Night

    Duration: 07:36

  • Queer Eye

    Duration: 06:14

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo in blue satin blouse, 1939
Photo credit: Nickolas Muray
Copyright: Nicklolas Muray Photo Archives

Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up at the from 16 Jun

Main image: V&A Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up
Copyright © Victoria and Albert Museum, London



Queer Eye

Queer Eye
Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France

Queer Eye Series 2 is available on Netflix

Fly by Night

Fly by Night
Fly By Night
Photo credit: Victor Frankowski

Duke Riley's Fly By Night is on at

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Stig Abel
Interviewed Guest Corinne Julius
Interviewed Guest Lynne Truss
Interviewed Guest John Bowen
Interviewed Guest Kitty Joe
Interviewed Guest Louis Wise
Producer Jerome Weatherald

Broadcast

  • Fri 15 Jun 2018 19:15

±«Óãtv Arts Digital

The best of British culture live and on demand.

Inspire

Inspire

A season discovering where artists find inspiration and helping listeners get creative.

Podcast