Tag: Paula Rego

Coursework, Part 3, Research & ReflectionLeave a comment

Part 3, research point 3 – figures in interiors

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Fitting the brief of paintings that appeal to me, I went first for Degas and his dancers in studio contexts. That led inevitably to his antithesis, Paula Rego and her dancing ostriches which are altogether less delicate. Stuck a little in ‘dancer’ mode, I spotted a painting by someone called Colin whose figures are very nearly symbolic (and which may or may not be in an interior setting), then I pursued the brief in more modern terms with a piece by Grayson Perry which is a crowded and cluttered interior which is recognisably a ‘today’ scene , and finally a … Continue reading Part 3, research point 3 – figures in interiors

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Coursework, Research & Reflection, Videos documentaries1 Comment

Paula Rego – BBC video and Gompertz review of exhibition

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Dame Paula Rego: Will Gompertz reviews Obedience and Defiance show in Milton Keynes. BBC News, Entertainment and Arts, June 2019   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48616934?xtor=ES-211-%5B23633_PANUK_DIV_25_ART_PaulaRego_Over35_Mopup%5D-20190623-%5Bbbcnews_damepaularegowillgompertzreviewsobedienceandefianceshowinmiltonkeynes_news%5D I’ve just watched the BBC’s 2017 documentary, Secrets and Stories, on Rego (which is due to expire in twelve days from now but just in case of a reprieve, this is the link https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08kz9qz/paula-rego-secrets-and-stories?xtor=ES-211-%5B23633_PANUK_DIV_25_ART_PaulaRego_Over35_Mopup%5D-20190623-%5Bbbctwo_paularegosecretsandstories_factualarts%5D) and found my first speculations about the deeper issues referred to in short biographies to be both justified and deepened. Being born in Portugal into a world in which fascism and repression – particularly of women – meant much of what was real in terms … Continue reading Paula Rego – BBC video and Gompertz review of exhibition

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection1 Comment

Paula Rego

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I was pointed at Rego’s work by my Drawing tutor who seemed to know intuitively the kind of image I’d find interesting. I’d never heard of her but her Dancing Ostriches will stay with me for a long time. [As if it weren’t obvious, the drawing on the left is my attempt at a copy] These dancers are as far from Degas’ delicates as it’s possible to get, and although I have always liked his representations of ballet, they seem wispy and idealised next to Rego’s chunky, muscular, powerhouses of women. Not that Rego’s women are likely to turn up … Continue reading Paula Rego

Coursework, Research & Reflection, sketchbook1 Comment

Paula Rego

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I’ve been looking at different ways of drawing and trying to get a feel for the intended audience and Rego certainly has something to say about dancers. Maybe her audience is the people who idealise the delicate images made by Degas; a reaction to that sense of prettiness. Her Dancing Ostriches are robust women with muscles, which maybe makes a statement about the image of dance being unrecognised for its athleticism and here she’s maybe over-emphasising the musculature of her dancers to make the point. Ballet is not an Olympic event but ice dance is, and the floor work of … Continue reading Paula Rego