Exhibition Freedom Within

Venue - The Vision Centre, Cork

An exhibition of paintings, drawings and ceramic sculptures produced by inmates in the Education Unit of Cork Prison.

Many of the works displayed were about life on ‘the inside’. I chose to concentrate on two of these – a painting and a ceramic sculpture.

1. SMcN said he found painting to be a way of expressing his feelings while in prison.

This particular one shows a tiny central figure, which instantly suggests to me a person in in a very oppressive environment. The figure is silhouetted against the red and black floor of a long corridor receding sharply into the far distance. At the end of the corridor there is white light shining through an arched window, throwing a long shaft of light forward again along its length  towards the tiny figure and beyond into the foreground. The effect of this light seemingly throws a long cast shadow of the figure towards the foreground, as far as the lower edge of the painting’s surface. Only the figure’s head and shoulders are cut off here – could this be some sort of subliminal message?

To each side of the figure are six others figures, (three to either side) standing in the shadows, looking gigantic by comparison – they loom over as if motioning towards the ‘prisoner’.

The whole demeanour of these enormous wiry giants, from their dark finish, contours catching whatever small amount of light there is, and white glow in the dark eyes combine to give them a primitive but menacing and possibly, automaton look. The floor beneath them is two tone red and black and behind them a background of two tone blue and black walls darkening towards the top. The two nearest to the centre, especially, are leaning, even walking towards the ‘prisoner’ holding their arms forward in a determined fashion. The stance could be ready to guide the prisoner in some direction – it’s hard to say which. A (remote) possibility is into the distance towards what I interpret as freedom, or, as is perhaps more likely just the opposite, as they appear to be using threats of some kind. There is, I would say, a limited choice as to who or what they symbolize, but certainly in my view, the prisoner here plays the role of victim.   

The whole scenario appears to be a reflection of the behavioural traits of certain individuals both inside and outside prison. It also indicates the effects of spending time in an institution of this type, with its unmistakable atmosphere of bullying and intimidation.

2. Climbing figures by MO'C

Approx 30cm high

Several ceramic figures, dark brown and red with transparent amber heads.

They communicate efforts to escape the cycle of recidivism.

Climbing figures

Starting with the largest figure at the base, with a few more additions they eventually pile up into a heap, forming a kind of human ladder, gradually reducing in size and moving further away, the higher they climb. What struck me about them was, as they become higher and smaller, from the largest figure at the bottom, bent over almost double, to the smallest climbing onto the remote top as if conquering the summit of a mountain, the more determined looking the posture. In a symbolic gesture, the amber heads would be suggestive of beacons of hope. The reducing size of the figures would indicate that the higher they climb the lighter they feel, so are better able to cope with the situation.

This very meaningful work must no doubt be an invaluable tool in helping these prisoner's rehabilitation and in their understanding of themselves.