Last year I was invited to be involved in World Turned Upside Down, an exhibition in Leeds curated by illustrator Si Smith with
support from Leeds Inspired. Artists and poets were asked to make work in
response to the Beatitudes – the 8 statements from the Sermon on the Mount.
Initially I found it
hard to see how these words relate to us at this time. They are words that invert our power
structures. The opposite of the
power-hungry, greedy and ruthless values we often see in the people that run
our countries, who don’t seem to consider the meek and those without a voice;
the poor, the very young, the sick and the elderly – the most vulnerable in
society. This is particularly marked at
a time of fallout from Brexit, which seemed to bring out an openness in racial hatred
and the USA voting for a person as self-serving and prejudiced as Donald Trump
to become their leader – both are shocking and depressing.
Si Smith’s
inspiration for the exhibition came from an unlikely source:
'At
Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, the Beatitudes were read. That struck me as a truly dissonant moment
and – whether deliberate or not – a pretty direct rebuke to the values that he
represents. Because whilst we’ve
succumbed to the belief that it’s the richest, the strongest and the most
powerful who’ll always and inevitably triumph, the message of the Beatitudes is
that in the end, it is actually the meek who’ll inherit the earth.’
The idea of
re-imagining a world turned on its head is a refreshing starting point for
making new work. Using the classic visual
style from revolution posters from the past as an influence, I was drawn to the
Beatitude about meekness;
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
for they shall inherit the earth.
The idea of meekness, or gentleness, being of
greater value than power, status and riches is alien in our society, but at the
same time I can’t help thinking people need to know the bullies don’t have to
always win. I’ve never considered
myself a particularly political person and am naturally quite shy, but last
year I felt compelled to join marches and rallies to support change. I am supporting a gentle revolution with
kindness at its centre. A rise in gentleness, thoughtfulness and
compassion for our fellow humans. It is
important not to confuse gentleness with passiveness or apathy, it is just a
different way to communicate – meekness can be very powerful. Making this piece of
work has made me mindful of the fact that we don’t always have to make big
showy gestures to make a difference. The
small act I can make each day to show an individual some kindness is equally as
powerful and important.
I have never made a
piece of work that has received responses like this print. I have been encouraged by the passionate and
inspiring conversations it has provoked in people of all ages. Some people felt compelled to buy the print
to share these values with their family every day. Other people may not have found the print to
their aesthetic taste, but have told me that it made them cry. When I hear
things like this it makes me feel quite emotional, I think this is due to a
feeling of solidarity, the idea that my values resonate with someone else. That maybe we really are having a gentle
revolution.
You can buy one of these limited edition 'Gentle Revolution' lino prints from my online shop.
