Thou Shalt Not? Oh Yes We Fucking Shall (2024)

Taken from the Open Art Folke 24 show What on Earth?

"Thou Shalt Not? Oh Yes We Fucking Shall" is an amalgamation and reflection of my lived experiences of celebrations and carnivals in Mexico, Colombia, Europe and beyond. This work on paper depicts a carnival procession through the streets. The camp revelry, the colour and sheer audacity which is often discouraged, suppressed and actively oppressed by societies around the world is sanctioned by those in power.  

Glittering floats and raucous revelers in their masks and costumes are bold and mischievous, taunting authority and even death itself. It's about making the most of life, rebellion and being free. Yet knowing freedom means different things to different people and often comes at a price. Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom to be whoever you want to be and do what you want to do without judgement. It’s a precious and precarious thing which many people struggle to tolerate, let alone accept and embrace.

Being truly free can be scary, even downright dangerous so sometimes a mask is needed to embolden ourselves whilst also seeking refuge in numbers. Carnivals may be sanctioned but they can be a liberating rebirth, a key to our true selves which from my perspective shouldn’t have to be packed away again once the chaos subsides and confetti and sequins gets swept away.

Ink and watercolour on handmade Indian cotton rag paper / 2023

100 x 140 cm approx