As one of Jarman’s ‘Slogan’ paintings from 1992, this work exemplifies the passion with which he approached these later paintings and the heartfelt need to address the prejudice against Aids sufferers and the homophobia that was still prevalent in the early 1990s. Having been diagnosed as HIV positive in 1986, Jarman was one of the first figures who spoke publicly about the virus. This exert is from 'The Gentle Revolutionary': Peter Tatchell Remembers Derek Jarman', A Quietus Interview, 2014 'The 1980s and 90s were a very heady, intoxicating and exhilarating period of queer activism. This was an era when parliament refused to even debate gay issues, let alone repeal homophobic laws. It was a time when tabloid headlines screamed things like "Poofs in the pulpit!", an attack on gay clergy, and "Poofters on parade", an attack on the campaign to end the ban on gay people serving in the armed forces… Derek believed direct action was necessary, because all the previous efforts using polite negotiation had failed.' This series of paintings threw slogans back at the establishment, 'Act Up' referring to the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power which was set up in New York in 1987. The works were exhibited in a ground breaking exhibition at the Manchester City Art Gallery and will return next year to form part of a retrospective exhibition of his work, first presented at the Irish Musuem of Modern Art, Dublin earlier this year.