The title ‘silent, indifferent, complacent’ is inspired by the words of Judy Shepard. Judy has been touring the United States and speaking out against homophobia since October 1998, when her son Mathew was brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming. In her speeches she frequently describes America as a SIC [silent, indifferent and complacent] society. The message is clear; by failing to act, we are complicit in the homophobia which surrounds us.
The exhibition ‘silent, indifferent, complacent’ uses creativity to raise awareness of the difficult paths we follow in contemporary society and to confront us with the gritty realities of social exclusion. The map of the world is a collage of news articles and headlines that have affected lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from around the world, and reminds us that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are global phenomena. The trees represent the six colours of the Pride or Rainbow flag and the six characteristics which its designer Gilbert Baker associated with them: life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony and spirit. The trees have been assembled from collaged press cuttings and headlines, a metaphor for strength, new beginnings and beauty, whilst the leaves reveal the positive outcomes which the colours of the flag offer us and the promise that, out of adversity comes hope.
‘silent, indifferent, complacent’ was installed at the Creative Hinckley Gallery in the Atkins Building over a period of three days and was an exercise in community engagement. Remaining true to the IDAHO vision, we sought to work with people who did not identify as LGBT and so most of the people who participated in creating the trees were being challenged for the very first time to think about how LGBT people are marginalised all over the world. The power of group installation work and collective supportive mechanisms as a means to move forward is an important message.
The exhibition opened on 17 May 2013, becoming the first ever public IDAHO event in Hinckley and Bosworth. It was attended by Her Worshipful the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Mrs Lynda Hodgkins, who spoke of her pride at being able to support the project. Later, Proud Generation project co-ordinator Rebecca Shaw reminded us why we need to continue to celebrate IDAHO.
We are grateful to all those who helped to make ‘silent, indifferent, complacent’ a reality; to the many volunteers who helped to make the trees and leaves, including those from Barwell and Earl Shilton Community Houses, and to both Next Generation and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, who supported and contributed financially to the project. However it would never have been possible without the vision, commitment and dedication of three special people; to artist Debbie Bird, and to Megan Roseblade and Lindsay Orton of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, our heartfelt thanks.
Hinckley Idaho Project 