We Said Yes

Jane James

In 2015 I began a series of paintings that made up an exhibition entitled ‘Semantics’. In the two years developing and producing the work, I engaged in many very frank and emotive conversations. That exhibition honoured those people for whom coming out is a daily act of bravery and exposure. The works were a celebration of diversity within sameness, and stand as a reminder of the language we use, and the power it wields. 

Collectively the works in this exhibition spell out ‘we said yes, love’, but essentially, each is a contemplative still life. A single part of a discourse. A piece of history. Just as each survey vote cast was an individual signal, collectively creating meaning. Imperfectly, we affirmed that equal consideration, dignity and respect should be available to all of us. We brought equality a little closer.

 We said yes.