How Does Giving Fear a Face: Paula Rego | HENI Talks Work?

Giving fear a face means turning scary thoughts into pictures that we can understand and even laugh at.

Imagine you're scared of monsters under your bed, instead of just being afraid in the dark, you draw them or paint them. That’s what Paula Rego does with her art: she takes fear and makes it real, like a monster you can see.

Paula Rego uses big, bold colors and simple shapes to show how fear feels inside. Think of it like drawing your biggest worry, maybe it looks like a big, angry dog or a shadow that moves on its own. When we give fear a face, it becomes something we can talk about, even fight.

When you see fear as a picture, it's no longer just in your head, it’s right there on the page. You can look at it, maybe even make it laugh or run away. That’s how Paula Rego helps people feel less scared: by making fear something real and friendly.

It's like turning your nightmares into comic books!