Paula Rego in Oslo: ‘Dance Among Thorns’ arrives at the Munch Museum
On April 24, the Munch Museum in Oslo opened a new exhibition dedicated to Paula Rego (1935–2022), marking the first major presentation of the Luso-British artist’s work in the Nordic countries. Titled Paula Rego: Dance Among Thorns, the show brings together over 100 works spanning decades of an artistic practice defined by figuration and the exploration of social and political themes, as well as the female condition.
A central point of the exhibition is the dialogue established between the worlds of Paula Rego and Edvard Munch (1863-1944) . Curator Kari J. Brandtzæg highlights thematic and conceptual affinities between the two artists, evident in works such as Rego’s The Dance (1988), which echoes Munch’s famous The Dance of Life (1899-1900).
The presence of CAM’s Collection is vital to this showcase, with the loan of 15 paintings and drawings. Highlighted pieces include historical works such as Salazar Vomiting the Pátria (1960) – a direct critique of the dictatorial regime – Time – Past and Present (1990), and the work Mother (1997).
In addition to paintings and drawings, the exhibition also features tapestries, prints, and sculptures, offering a comprehensive view of the artist’s technical versatility and her unusual dialogue with Munch’s oeuvre.