I Say No, 2021

“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.

In risograph printing, each colour is printed as a separate pass through a risograph machine — a stencil-based duplicator that presses organic soy inks into the paper. Risograph inks are naturally vibrant — they are renowned for their vivid colours and evident textures. The inks are transparent so layers build to create more colours. Slight shifts in registration and a soft grain make every impression subtly unique.

I Say No is printed on Olin natural white 170gsm, an uncoated, FSC-certified stock whose gentle warmth lets the colours glow. The edition is strictly limited to 100 and will never be reprinted. All prints were produced at the London Centre for Book Arts.