Paula Rego: An Exhibition Exploring Women's Right to Autonomy Through Powerful Art

This exhibition features a series of works by Portuguese-British painter Paula Rego, titled 'The Abortion Pastels,' created in response to a referendum on abortion laws in Portugal. The powerful, unidealized depictions focus on women's experiences before or after prohibited abortions, highlighting their strength and resilience.

The exhibition 'Paula Rego: Pictures for a woman's right to autonomy' showcases the impactful 'Untitled' series, later known as 'The Abortion Pastels,' created by the renowned Portuguese-British painter Paula Rego in 1998. These works were a direct response to a Portuguese referendum that sought to relax abortion laws but was narrowly defeated. Each piece within the series depicts a woman just before or after a prohibited abortion, processing Rego's own experiences and those of her acquaintances. The exhibition emphasizes Rego's unidealized portrayal of women, not as victims, but as strong individuals facing the viewer directly, conveying emotions with subtlety that underscores their resilience. Rego's commentary highlights the fear, pain, and danger associated with illegal abortions, and criticizes the criminalization of women. The text also provides context on the eventual legalization of abortion in Portugal in 2007 and the long-standing availability of contraceptives and sex education in the country.

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