Words: Cláudia Pinto
Photo: Frederico Martins
Paula Rego needs no introduction to the national and international world of painting. Although her journey and recognition have been slow, she is now an essential name in art and culture. In Metamorphosis, we try to recreate the painter’s universe, and the actress Victoria Guerra lends her body and soul to it. Many of us took part in a conversation that emerged from this work. Many women who opened doors so that we could talk about freedom in freedom. Including Paulo Rego.
In this editorial, Victoria Guerra temporarily transforms herself into Lila, the woman we find in many of Paula Rego’s paintings. “I thought the idea and concept of this work was fantastic because it breaks away from the typical standards of beauty and what is usually produced in fashion”, explains Victoria. The actress had just finished a project based on the work of Paula Rego. “All of a sudden, I’m leaving the cinematic universe of Paula Rego to enter a universe that is more linked to fashion”.
Paula Rego’s extensive oeuvre was dedicated to the feminine, to the role of women and to the critical social issues of the time. She created a universe all of her own. Anabela Mota Ribeiro, in the book «Paula Rego by Paula Rego», describes the artist’s work as follows: “Paula Rego puts the same themes on stage over and over again — darkness, fear, pain, destruction, violence, revenge, death, curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition, power. Transgressing in order to go on — sex, family, childhood, old age, man, woman, love. Work, work, work. Do, do, do”. “Do what you can’t do”, in Rego’s own words.
“I’d say that everything she (Paula) represents is incredible, especially because it focuses on women”. Victoria believes there’s still much work to be done. “There will always be a way to go. Things may be a bit different than they were ten years ago, but women are still seen as desirable objects, and it’s difficult to escape that”.
Victoria Guerra has had an unparalleled career on the national and international scene. The «Nothingness Club», by Edgar Pera, and «The Worst Man in London», by Rodrigo Areias, are some of her most recent works. In «Nothingness Club», she gives life to Ofélia, the great love of Fernando Pessoa, but as with everything in Pessoa’s work, this is a very special Ofélia, “who didn’t stay in one place. She’s several women in one”.
Still, “the standard of beauty is changing, and we women are working towards that too. There’s a sisterhood in that sense. We don’t want to see the same kind of beauty, the same kind of body. We’re looking for different types. We’re looking for that difference”.
However, the painter’s work is rich in the themes that affect women. “Paula’s paintings have always depicted struggles that concern women, the working woman, the abortion. She represented them in her paintings. When we look at them, we find, for example, that the issue of abortion is very much explored. Abortion was legalised in Portugal many years ago, and suddenly we live in a time when the issue is back on the political agenda. I see a reversal of years of work that is now being called into question. That’s another reason why I like this work so much. We are discussing issues that, in my opinion, are not controversial and that are being talked about all over the world”.
But what is the role of a woman artist, in any field of the arts, to be a voice of change? “I feel that I have a responsibility. You have to have the courage to talk about these women who have changed the course of history. And to think that Paula Rego, as a woman, without the same space that we have today, could talk about these issues is incredible. At the same time, it’s frightening to see that we’re still talking about it today”. In fact, Victoria continues, “I am very grateful to all the women and everything they have done to make it possible for us to be here in freedom to talk about it. The platforms we use today to reach the public are different. At the time, when some of the women artists came up, this kind of exposure didn’t exist. What did exist was greater political engagement”.
Victoria admits that she constantly questions herself: “I often ask myself: what more can I do? But I don’t have all the answers. These women did back then. What can we do now? Culture, cinema, literature, all have a mission to make people think”.
Challenges
Portugal seems to be an oasis when it comes to the quality of its artists. “On an international level, I’d say we’ve never exported actors as much as we do now. They look for us more because we are very complete, we speak many languages, and we work hard”. But this recognition doesn’t always find the same echo at home. “I love working in Portugal, but I think we don’t take care of ourselves. We don’t embrace each other and we don’t value ourselves. That’s one of our biggest challenges”. The actress recalls that “this year, Portuguese cinema has won very important accolades, like Miguel Gomes in Cannes”.
“I don’t think we value culture enough. But what we do, art, is very important. Art has a mission to create and raise awareness”. And this is one of Victoria’s main goals. “My goal as an artist is to make people aware. Artists should make people think about the world we live in, and what worries us. That’s what artists gave me as a child. But apart from reflection, art should also allow you to have a good time”.