‘Stunning is an understatement’, Laura Cumming reviews Paula Rego in The Observer
Violence, eroticism and oppression converge as Rego’s deeply ambiguous work goes straight for the subconscious in this mesmerising seven-decade retrospective
A girl in voluminous skirts wrestles a dog to the ground. It lies on its back, startled and gasping, helpless as the poor mutt submitting to heavy chains in the neighbouring painting, or the dog having its throat shaved with an open razor in the next.
A fourth painting, very famous, shows another girl – though somehow it is always the same girl – apparently raising her dress to a dog that sits before her with uncomprehending obedience. The title confirms what your eyes can hardly believe; but what is really going on in this scenario? You are asked to look, imagine, identify; what is she taking out on these dogs, and why; what is the relationship between human and animal; is this a kind of bestial abuse?
Image: Paula Rego, The Little Murderess, 1987
Private collection
© Paula Rego
- Doug Aitken
- Njideka Akunyili Crosby
- Milton Avery
- Jules de Balincourt
- Ali Banisadr
- Hernan Bas
- María Berrío
- Varda Caivano
- Verne Dawson
- Stan Douglas
- Elmgreen & Dragset
- Inka Essenhigh
- Ian Hamilton Finlay
- Barnaby Furnas
- David Harrison
- NS Harsha
- Alex Hartley
- Secundino Hernández
- Ilse D’Hollander
- Christian Holstad
- Kudzanai-Violet Hwami
- Chantal Joffe
- Isaac Julien
- Idris Khan
- Yayoi Kusama
- John Kørner
- Doron Langberg
- Wangechi Mutu
- Alice Neel
- Maria Nepomuceno
- Chris Ofili
- Jorge Pardo
- Celia Paul
- Grayson Perry
- Paula Rego
- Tal R
- Conrad Shawcross
- Hedda Sterne
- Do Ho Suh
- Sarah Sze
- Adriana Varejão
- Suling Wang
- Stephen Willats
- Flora Yukhnovich
- Doug Aitken
- Njideka Akunyili Crosby
- Milton Avery
- Jules de Balincourt
- Ali Banisadr
- Hernan Bas
- María Berrío
- Varda Caivano
- Verne Dawson
- Stan Douglas
- Elmgreen & Dragset
- Inka Essenhigh
- Ian Hamilton Finlay
- Barnaby Furnas
- David Harrison
- NS Harsha
- Alex Hartley
- Secundino Hernández
- Ilse D’Hollander
- Christian Holstad
- Kudzanai-Violet Hwami
- Chantal Joffe
- Isaac Julien
- Idris Khan
- Yayoi Kusama
- John Kørner
- Doron Langberg
- Wangechi Mutu
- Alice Neel
- Maria Nepomuceno
- Chris Ofili
- Jorge Pardo
- Celia Paul
- Grayson Perry
- Paula Rego
- Tal R
- Conrad Shawcross
- Hedda Sterne
- Do Ho Suh
- Sarah Sze
- Adriana Varejão
- Suling Wang
- Stephen Willats
- Flora Yukhnovich
Victoria Miro Venice
San Marco 1994,
Calle Drio La Chiesa
30124 Venice, Italy
t: +39 041 523 3799
info@victoria-miro.com
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