Gubbio Through Frida’s Eyes: Reimagining the Spirit of the Place

On the Umbrian hills, immersed in its rich history and culture, stands Gubbio, a city that fascinates with its medieval and Renaissance architecture.

From stately palaces such as the Palazzo dei Consoli, to imposing churches such as the Cathedral of Saints Mariano and Giacomo, Gubbio tells of a glorious past, permeated with art and tradition. Thousands of kilometers away, in Mexico, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón created a unique and vibrant artistic universe. Her self-portraits, full of symbolism and emotional intensity, have made her an icon of the 20th century. The bright colors, bold lines and exploration of profound themes such as identity, pain and death, characterize Kahlo’s unmistakable style.

What would happen if these two worlds, so far apart in time and space, met? Imagine Gubbio reimagined through the bold lens of Frida Kahlo. Artificial intelligence offers us the opportunity to explore this fascinating fusion, giving life to a story that redefines the landscapes of Gubbio with the colors and emotions of the Mexican painter’s art.

We venture into this hypothetical vision and by analyzing the images generated by AI we can discover how the architecture of Gubbio intertwines with Frida’s iconic style. Beyond aesthetics, the process of generating the images took place through the use of a specific prompt, a text that describes in detail the vision I wanted to realize. The prompt includes key elements of Gubbio’s architecture, such as its imposing churches and winding streets – and references of Frida Kahlo, mentioning her bright colors, leaves, use of symbols and exploration of themes such as identity and suffering.

The AI then processed this information, drawing on its vast database of images and artistic knowledge, to generate a series of unique images. We immediately notice the presence of distinctive architectural elements of Gubbio. The Palazzo dei Consoli, adorned with bright colors and floral motifs reminiscent of Kahlo’s works. The arcades of the Palazzo Pretorio, framed by lush jungles, recalling Kahlo’s connection with nature. We find recurring symbols and motifs in Kahlo’s work, such as birds that could act as mystical guardians of Gubbio’s monuments. Frida’s joined eyebrows and characteristic moustache could appear on statues or facades, echoing her vast collection of self-portraits (150 to be precise), where she was reborn each time.

The success of the blending of styles depends on the balance achieved by the AI. The images appear harmonious, with the architecture of Gubbio serving as a canvas onto which Kahlo’s elements naturally graft. In this reality, her spirit permeates the images. Her presence is as palpable as the stones of Gubbio’s ancient streets. She is a ghostly wanderer, with her iconic crown of flowers, her gaze telling us of personal struggles and triumphs. She resonates with the universal themes of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.