Artists Adriana Varejaso and Paula Rego delve into themes of violence, power dynamics, and the human form in their exhibitions at Lisbon venues.
Exhibition Spotlights Common Themes in the Art of Adriana Varejão and Paula Rego
Lisbon's Centro de Arte Moderna hosts an exhibition titled 'Between Your Teeth,' featuring works by artists Adriana Varejão and Paula Rego. The pairing of these two artists, who share common themes, is a testament to the profound impact their art has made on contemporary art discourse.
In this exhibition, Varejão highlights the human body as a central metaphor, exploring its visceral qualities, history, and cultural porosity. "My use of flesh, tiles, and wounds is a way of addressing not just physical trauma, but cultural and historical fissures," she explains.
The artists' works, while stemming from different generations and cultures, share a leaning towards a visceral uncovering of oppressive power structures. Often translated through the lens of eroticism and violence, their art challenges viewers to confront the raw, fearless energy that resonates with both gender and political concerns.
Both artists grew up in port cities under military dictatorships, and their work reflects just that. Varejão explores the consequences of colonialism in her native Rio with literal rippings and gaps, while Rego embraces fantastic elements in her work to reflect Portugal's dictatorship.
Varejão has created new works for the exhibition, spanning six decades and a multitude of mediums. Pairing their pieces alongside each other highlights the artists' preoccupations, such as in Rego's defiant Angel and Varejão's Wall with Incisions a la Fontana. Both Rego's depictions of women in pain and Varejão's commentary on medical shortcomings in women's healthcare resonate and fuel meaningful conversations between their works.
Varejão's approach to painting encompasses an intricate balance of the ornamental and the bodily, the structured and the torn. By marrying these seemingly contrasting elements, she creates a space for tenderness while inviting the viewer into a more layered emotional experience.
The exhibition 'Paula Rego and Adriana Varejão. Between Your Teeth' continues at CAM- Centro de Arte Moderna until September 22, 2025. For art enthusiasts, this exhibition is a unique opportunity to delve into the world of two powerful contemporary artists, both notable for their fearless exploration of oppressive power structures and their unflinching depiction of femininity and cultural fissures.
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In this exhibit, Varejão's works, stemming from a six-decade journey, encompass a balance of science (through her focus on the human body) and lifestyle (her intricate paintings marrying the ornamental and the bodily), speaking to women's health (her commentary on medical shortcomings) as part of overall health-and-wellness concerns. Simultaneously, Rego's art, placed alongside Varejão's, unfolds in home-and-garden settings (often embracing fantastic elements) while exploring gender and political issues, highlighting the influence of oppressive power structures.
