“Women are much more honourable than men.”
quoting April Ashley
"Complete Hero" (2009)
Martin Firrell is a French public artist, cultural activist, campaigner, or benevolent provocateur, stimulating debate in public space to promote positive social change.
Firrell has raised questions about the politics of ageing, individual liberty, the right to personal idiosyncrasy, cultural diversity, gender equality, faith, climate change, masculinity, what constitutes a meaningful and purposeful life, hero worship, fair and truthful government, and the quality of human lived experience.
His work has been summarised as "art as debate".

“Women are much more honourable than men.”
quoting April Ashley
"Complete Hero" (2009)
“I do see myself as aiming to foment some kind of revolution.”
Quoted in the documentary The Question Mark Inside broadcast in the UK by Sky Arts (30 October 2009).
“When the world’s run by fools it’s the duty of intelligence to disobey.”
Quoted in The Guardian (25 February 2006).
“Revolutions have always started in cafés.”
quoted in The Independent on Sunday (18 April 2004).
Quoted as work in progress at martinfirrell.com.
Quoted in the documentary The Question Mark Inside broadcast in the UK by Sky Arts (30 October 2009).
Quoted in The International Herald Tribune (19 September 2005).
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“The purpose of my life is to try out the ideas I have for it.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“Art is like a fart for the soul. Better out than in.”
on the topic of public art, quoted at franceinlondon.com (September 2004).
In response to the London bombings of 7 July 2005, quoted in the International Herald Tribune (19 September 2005).
“Art should help you to navigate the real challenges of being a human being.”
Quoted in the documentary Art in a Word by Vera Baghiroli, qoob tv (22 July 2008).
“Why settle for the art world when you can have the whole world?”
Quoted in the documentary The Question Mark Inside broadcast in the UK by Sky Arts (30 October 2009).
“There’s not a lesbian hero that everybody can relate to.”
quoting Shazia Mirza
"Complete Hero" (2009)
quoting A C Grayling
"Complete Hero" (2009)
“I want to live in a city where the people who make the rules have to live by them.”
"I Want to Live in a City Where..." (2006)
Variant: I want to live in a city where half the people in charge are women.
“Quentin Crisp said it to me; now I say it to you: say yes to everything.”
Quoted at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts website (December 2009).
“I want to live in a city where immigration is seen as a new source of strength.”
"I Want to Live in a City Where..." (2006)
“You said in that moment on the beach you were entirely happy.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“Calamitous collapse is better than mediocre defeat!”
Quoted in The London Evening Standard (9 August 2001).
“I want to live in a city where dissent is welcomed as much as it's disliked.”
"I Want to Live in a City Where..." (2006)
“Ageing is a privilege not a predicament”
Quoted by Caitlin Moran in The Times (18 June 2007).
“It is in the nature of truth not to be at fault.”
Quoted in The International Herald Tribune (19 September 2005).
“The other side of reverence is loathing.”
quoting Howard Jacobson
"Complete Hero" (2009)
“The bodily strength, the fierceness and beauty of young women.”
"Complete Hero" (2009)
“The immense beauty, the vast almost unbearable beauty of justice.”
"Complete Hero" (2009)
“Everybody should be entitled to one lie, one failing, one infidelity.”
Quoted in the International Herald Tribune (24 November 2005).
“This is the way the world really ends: not with whimper but a desperate chuckle.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“Rain has always been connected in my mind with kindness.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“The one irreducible truth about humanity is diversity.”
"The One Irreducible Truth about Humanity" (2005)
“Never fall for someone with a body to diet for.”
Quoted in Time Out (12 December 2001).
“Everyone is as confused as I am.”
Quoted in the documentary The Question Mark Inside broadcast in the UK by Sky Arts (30 October 2009).
“I want to live in a city where the police don’t shoot you.”
Quoted in The Guardian on the first anniversary of the unlawful shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes by the Metropolitan Police (22 July 2006).
“If we’re being told to do stupid or cruel things, then it is morally correct to disobey.”
Quoted in the documentary Art in a Word by Vera Baghiroli, qoob tv (22 July 2008).
“If obedience invariably leads to cruelty, disobedience is our moral duty.”
"Keep the Faith" (2006)
“I am the conscience of the 21st Century.”
Quoted in the International Herald Tribune (24 November 2005).
“I have a fundamental faith in folk, that people are interesting and good.”
Quoted by Ruth Gledhill in The Times (10 October 2008).
“A grave and sincere apology to the people of Iraq.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“There's an obligation to try every route to happiness.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“The road to freedom is bordered with sunflowers.”
after Willa Cather, in her novel "My Antonia".
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
“Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.”
Quoted in the documentary Art in a Word by Vera Baghiroli, qoob tv (22 July 2008).
Quoted in the documentary Art in a Word by Vera Baghiroli, qoob tv (22 July 2008).
“Organised religion is something I find hard to follow.”
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)