One of the most famous graffiti walls in Bristol has been transformed ahead of International Women’s Day – with a series of images and messages inspired by small acts of ‘resistance against the patriarchy’.
The mural has been painted this week by Bristol-based artist Imogen Donegan, and shares messages, ideas and slogans women contributed to Bristol Women’s Voice as ways of continuing ‘acts of resistance’ against the patriarchy.
That includes simple statements like: “I wear what I want when I want”, and “Keep my body hair”, and also more direct messages like “Refusing to move out of men’s way in the street”, “Be a stroppy, active, non-agreeing old women” and “Mention my female partner to the children I teach – normalise queerness”.
The mural has taken shape this week at the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft’s outdoor gallery, just off the main A38 in Bristol.
“This is a brilliant and exciting project to be opening up with, ahead of International Women’s Day,” said Kath Taylor, the director of Bristol Women’s Voice.
“When Imogen first submitted her proposals, we were immediately taken by it – she really got where we wanted to go with it and managed to visualise beautifully and creatively what women have shared with us through these messages.
“Every day we come up against expressions of patriarchal power and gendered bias, and it’s been really inspiring to have conversations about the different ways in which people take steps to stand against these,” she added.
“Working with people to identify the little things we can do helps us work together to change the bigger picture. We hope this new mural will make people pause, reflect and hopefully inspire positive action in whatever way they feel is right for them,” she said.
The mural will be up for the rest of March and is on Jamaica Street, opposite Turbo Island in Kingsdown.