How Does Paula Rego at IMMA: Obedience and Defiance Work?

Paula Rego’s art at IMMA is like a big storybook that shows how people can be bossy or brave.

Imagine you're playing with your toys, and someone tells you what to do, that's obedience. But sometimes, you don't want to listen, and you do something silly or surprising instead, that's defiance. That’s exactly what Paula Rego shows in her pictures.

In some of her paintings, people are like soldiers who follow orders without question, they're doing what they're told, just like when you line up for lunch and listen to the teacher.

But in other pictures, there's a twist. Some characters rebel or make funny faces, it’s like when you pretend to be a dinosaur and roar at your brother instead of sitting quietly.

Paula Rego uses bold colors and strange shapes to make you feel the difference between being bossy and being brave. Her art helps us see that sometimes, doing what we want can be just as important as listening to others.