“Sometimes, being afraid of confrontation, we say ‘yes’ to go with the flow. In avoiding trouble today, we only bring discomfort for tomorrow. We are living in a world in which integrity is fading away. This work is just a reminder that no matter the consequences, we always have the right to say ‘no’.”— Valerie Savchits

In I Say No, Valerie Savchits positions refusal as an act of integrity. The work transforms a simple phrase into a charged declaration, a boundary drawn against compliance, silence and erosion of self.

Rooted in her engagement with Slavic mythology and archetypal symbolism, Savchits often reworks inherited narratives through a feminist lens. Here, the figure becomes both individual and emblematic: a contemporary heroine asserting agency within structures that demand acquiescence. The image carries the clarity of protest and the resonance of ritual.

Rather than presenting refusal as negative, I Say No frames it as generative: a necessary assertion that preserves autonomy and restores equilibrium. The work insists that resistance can be quiet, but it must be spoken.

Produced in a limited edition of 100, the print extends artist Valerie Savchits’ exploration of language as empowerment and image as declaration.

Learn more about artist Valerie Savchits