Revolt, 2014
serigraph on Arches 88 paper, series of 6, each 76.5 x 57.5 cm

Revolt is a series of serigraphic prints with revolutionary messages written entirely in shorthand. Shorthand, or stenography, is the general term for abbreviated writing using a sequence of marks and symbols that can transcribe speech at the same speed at which it is spoken. In the mid-20th century, the heyday of shorthand coincided with the rise of feminism and significant changes in the status of women in society. Given the historical connection between the women’s movement and women’s ubiquitous knowledge of shorthand, it is surprising that shorthand was not the written language of this revolution, considering that it was a language shared almost exclusively by women.

The texts for the prints were collaged from a variety of sources linked to revolutionary moments, including political speeches and avant-garde films, feminist writings and artists’ manifestos, song lyrics and protest slogans. Translated into shorthand and printed as a series of large format black and red screenprints on poster paper, Revoltproposes a revolution in cipher.