LOVE IS A FIRE

“Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. I use the word "love" here not merely in the personal sense but as a state of being, or a state of grace - not in the infantile American sense of being made happy but in the tough and universal sense of quest and daring and growth.”

James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

The words used in these posters were adapted from slogans written by young people at LGBT youth groups in Kent. I condensed down what they were saying into messages that spoke of universal notions of love, so that they became almost abstract, reflecting the vaguely optimistic but hollow slogans of politics and advertising. These statements though are self evidently true and come with no strings attached. The poster designs themselves contain gay symbolism and I used fluorescent and metallic inks to recall disco, acid house and other gay movements from the past to echo the sense of optimism, political literacy and hopefulness which I saw reflected in the young people’s statements. In times of fear we can draw hope from the strong history of queer culture creating spaces for love to happen in the face of hate. For me Pride is a celebration of our capacity to love and be loved, something we all have in common, so it is important the work carries a positive and uplifting message for everyone.