Power: Freedom to Create
Exhibition Guide
What does creativity mean to you?
“ Drawing and making gives different views and different aspects to my life.” “ It symbolises me – beauty, quality, strong.” “ Life in its own essence.” “ Doing something at your own pace.” “ Creativity is freedom.” “ Making something out of nothing.”
Extracts from a conversation between men at HMP Leicester and Curator, Andrea Hadley-Johnson exploring the meaning of creativity. With thanks to the men for their honesty and trust. 2
Introduction
Power: Freedom to Create Welcome to this charismatic guidebook, containing beautiful fragments from the ‘Power: Freedom to Create’ exhibition. Use it as a reference tool to connect with the art and themes presented in the gallery, and as a stimulus to create something powerful of your own. It all began with an exquisitely crafted soap sculpture from the National Justice Museum’s collection. The historic mini sculpture was crafted by someone in prison and despite the lack of provenance, it seemed to hold a power of its own. It captivated people’s imagination and inspired empathy with the unknown artist. We asked, ‘where does the power lie in this work of art?’ and the insightful discussions that followed shaped the foundation from which the exhibition grew. ‘Power: Freedom to Create’ is a coproduced exhibition in partnership with Koestler Arts. It platforms contemporary and historic artwork made in criminal justice settings, alongside newly commissioned work by six artists and writers. Placed together, they magnify a diversity of creative skill and imagination under the theme of ‘power and creativity’. They sit with equal power beside each other. The interpretation will continue to evolve throughout the duration of the exhibition to celebrate what is uniquely powerful about each piece presented. National Justice Museum
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Power: Freedom to Create
Koestler Arts Koestler Arts is the UK’s best-known prison arts charity. We encourage people in the criminal justice system to change their lives by participating in the arts. We share their artworks with the public, so people can witness this diverse range of voices, stories and talent. This exhibition places artworks from the 2020 Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice alongside pieces from the National Justice Museum’s collection. We are curious to see the ‘conversation’ between the displays and what they all say about the theme of power… This Awards year has highlighted the power of the imagination and creativity like no other. Many prisons and other establishments endured 23-hour ‘lock-ups’ for months due to the pandemic. Even in such difficult circumstances, with access to few materials, Koestler Arts received over 6,500 entries to the 2020 Koestler Awards. Every year the Koestler Awards welcome entries across 52 categories of visual art, craft, writing and music. Entries come from people in prisons, secure hospitals, young offender institutions, immigration removal centres and on probation. Each artwork is a testament to the power of creativity in its own way and each will have a story behind it. Every entry begins with the positive act of picking up a pen, a paintbrush or an instrument and starting something.
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Koestler Arts
Art does not have the power to do everything. It cannot provide all the practical and emotional support that people need both during and after their time in the criminal justice system. But art can do a lot. It can awaken self-belief and self-worth, it occupies time, it can help express and work through feelings and it hones skills. Koestler Awards entrants often say that their creativity has been a lifeline to them. As one recent entrant put it on hearing that their work would be in an exhibition: “In a very quiet and special way my life has changed”. koestlerarts.org.uk
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Power: Freedom to Create
Where do th li (in a wo of 6
National Justice Museum
oes he power ie ork f art)? 7
Power: Freedom to Create
Nae I Dear HM Prison Greenock Koestler Awards Commended Award for Printmaking
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ I can see the power coming from the construction between the deer and the background. The painter used a more powerful way to engrave the background and a gentle way to show out the deer.”
“ The most powerful thing is the deer's unwavering eyes.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
Mary the Pigeon Atkinson Secure Unit Koestler Awards Commended Award for Printmaking
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ The power is in the freedom of the pigeon to fly freely and the sense of peace in the picture.”
“ I think that the power of this artwork is the simplicity of this artwork. The artist managed to use such a simple tool with a sophisticated technique to describe a vivid pigeon.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
I Am The Phoenix HM Prison Eastwood Park Koestler Awards Commended Award for Sculpture
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ This sculpture is very interesting. The materials used seem to be sweets, or at least look like sweets. However, the composition is incredibly powerful, almost like a vintage poster. The message “like a phoenix she rises” is very well represented with the colour use, from black at the bottom (the ashes) to lighter tones of red and yellow for the flames. It conveys a feeling of sweetness and at the same time a huge sense of power, growth and self improvement. It also reminds me of the struggle of women in society, and I believe the materials used were very well chosen.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
It is Always Darkest Before the Dawn HM Prison Wandsworth Koestler Awards Calligraphy
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ This artwork carries two powerful meanings. One, it is the sentence on the painting, which is telling the natural phenomena, which is a truth given by nature and happens every day. Two, it also refers to a metaphoric meaning which is hope and peace. The artist used pigeon, and rainbow colours represented it, which makes the message even more clear.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
Without Hope Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre Koestler Awards Commended Award for Ceramics 16
Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ This sculpture is very compelling and powerful in particular, those crack lines around his body and his position. In my opinion, the artist shaped this hopeless man with two bigger hands to hold his head tightly. Perhaps it could be a reflection of people's lives in an immigration removal centre, or it could be a way that the artist expressed his/her voice from the deep down.”
“ The power is in the material used, it's solid, dark, unbreakable. The man thinks and conveys a sense of sadness.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
Soap Portrait National Justice Museum Collection Artist Unknown
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ I think the power of this piece lies in the material. If it was carved from a more traditional material, it would still be a beautiful piece, but the material is what really provokes thought. Additionally, the soap is white and carved, evoking themes of assimilation, whiteness as power, and the texture of racism.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
Man Behind Bars National Justice Museum Collection Artist Unknown
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ Much of the power lies in the contrast. While the portrait is in grayscale, the background is vibrant. While the portrait is cut into pieces, locked into place with a straightforward and unflinching expression, the background is open and infinite. The lines cutting through the portrait open the body up to colour and space, which is a powerful way to reimagine the fracturing nature of bars.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
Billiard Table, 1997 National Justice Museum Collection Ray Scobie
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Public Responses to Exhibited Works
“ Power in this image is the juxtaposition of all the stuff squeezed into the internal space, yet the external space outside the window seems to stretch to infinity. Almost as though the inside might burst.”
“ How powerful is that! It's an eye looking at an eye... but does the viewer see eye-to-eye with the bloke in the room or vice-versa? So goldfish bowl-like too.”
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Power: Freedom to Create
Artist Commi
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National Justice Museum
issions Introducing new work by six brilliant artists and writers, in response to the themes ‘creativity, freedom and power’. Like the exhibition itself, this work was crafted during a global pandemic and is testament to the power of their creativity. 25
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Artist Commissions
SOAP Chevy Thompson (Ofilaye) These Soap Carvings were created by people imprisoned during the 1970s. They showcase the ingenuity and what a person can achieve when their resources are extremely limited. They show great technical skill and contain beautiful creative qualities. Each one is full of character and charm, giving us an idea of what the person was most in thought of when carving their soap. What I was most fascinated by is that they were most likely made in isolation, we usually think of art creation as something that will be shared afterwards, these soaps tell me that creating is a fundamental way for us to express ourselves. Even if it’s expressing ourselves to ourselves. I took photographs of three of the soap carvings in the museum's collection and presented them on a colourful backdrop to give them an enlarged sense of power and presence. The word ‘power’ is repeated, reinforcing the soap carving’s presence.
Ofilaye is a photographer and filmmaker based in the UK. His work focuses on race, identity, and origins. Instagram: ofilaye 27
Power: Freedom to Create
powerful built on dark, a saga – for the National Justice Museum Dave Wood somewhere within the arteries – the utterances run deep the gas has blown away and left its mark whatever rage or calm or semblances of sleep the cage is locked – the bars are built on dark the gas has blown away and left its mark what food is fed – the teeth are craving could creative lives that need are drowning starved what grows inside the seed is in the would whatever rage or calm or semblances of sleep dreams fester – ham-fisted in the bred cage shudders as imagination weeps power sits within our nest – the speaker said the cage is locked – the bars are built on dark but dark exists for light – light crow-bars in dark bird (the crow) its wings and feathers spark the paper with a fluttering of wings the gas has blown away and left its mark remember this – that stories always shift we fear the unknown more than fear the shark creative wields the pen and cleaves its gift what food is fed – the teeth are craving could the pen and brush considering the ways one wears the dark wings of the crow's unstopping blood the other follows on with colour-play 28
Artist Commissions
creative lives that need are drowning starved but now the picture scores the notes of time time's short – creative flexes muscles hard and powers to reach outside and break the lines what's grown inside the seed was in the would what's running rampant now is beating art the wings of speed are pushing at the bud power once stuck within bursts husk apart whatever rage or calm or semblances of sleep were here – all traces have been used experience of life is strength so steep we have to climb its tower to match the fuse dreams fester – ham-fisted in the bred let all the symbols of your falling sleep creep out mythology is shared when power's fled power returns – and chomps into the doubt the wings of speed still pushing at the bud we wear the dark wings of the crow's unstopping blood
Dave Wood is a gardener, poet, writer, visual artist, actor and facilitator. He works in all kinds of venues: galleries, community centres, schools and, obviously, gardens. nottinghamcommunityarts.blogspot.com specialpoetry.blogspot.com 29
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Artist Commissions
C/our/Rage Rachel Parry This residency was an opportunity to experiment and carve out ideas inside the historical site. To unpack, unravel and dig into my own experiences with the residues of traumas. A nonlinear work in progress into my own complicated relationship of justice and rehabilitation. My body is the first site for gathering up the memories, exploring movements of self-care, image making, writing and gathering up residues, memories and bringing them into the now. The material to use and re/claim, dissolving its power. Resulting in a series of performances to camera. It took a lot of courage to take this journey.
Rachel Parry is an Artist, Producer and Curator based in Nottingham. Working predominantly across Live Performance Art, Fine Arts, Installation, sound and creative technology. Rachel is a studio member of Near Now Nottingham. Rachel’s artwork is through the lens of living with invisible disabilities, as a neurodivergent, working-class, queer person, with complicated roots. Instagram: rachelparryartist 31
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Artist Commissions
Boobs, Bananas & Guns whatsthebigmistry How can one possibly make art, action or conversation on Power in any adequate way? Who am I or You or They to talk about Power? Is it just too big, offensive, one sided, too dangerous? Perhaps too colourful, too fruity, exotic, exploitative? Just too damn much? The infamous African-American born banana skirt entertainer Josephine Baker was said to represent "the emancipatory potential in being problematic". (Dr Michell Chresfield) Power is awkward, too important and doing nothing is lazy. At the time of writing I am making this work, it's not complete. In my explorations I consider money, women, anti-production, survival, language and identity.
This work has been made in collaboration with: Bob Karper (filming and editing); Keir Cooper (music composition and sound); and Dot Alma (audio describer).
whatsthebigmistry is a Director, Performer, Producer and Writer straddling performance, visual and live art. She is a provocateur, change maker who evokes discourse and action around identity, mental health, neurodiversity, feminist politics, sex and queerness. whatsthebigmistry.com Instagram: whatsthebigmistry 33
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Artist Commissions
Bruce Asbestos S/S 2021 Bruce Asbestos The catwalk features wild amalgamations of American and British characters; including ‘Kroc’, a crocodile character based on the American McDonald's tycoon Ray Kroc, and the witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth. The work muses on the power of cultural identity within a globalised visual culture, and what happens when these pop culture influences clash. Bruce's artwork draws from a rich history of painting, sculpture, folklore, fashion and aspects of popular culture from Japan, Europe, and the US. The work challenges the idea of national identity in globalised pop culture; it prompts audiences to reflect on their own, international cultural experience. Photo © Michael Kane 2020
Bruce Asbestos earned a BA and MA in Fine Art from Nottingham Trent University, winning scholarships to Musashino University, Japan and RMIT University, Australia. Recent projects include S/S 2020 Bonington Gallery, BA X Juliana Sissons, Primary, A/W Collection, Kunstraum, A/W 2018 Nottingham Contemporary, Arts Council International Fund, NYC, A-B Testing, Hayward Gallery, London. 'Sunscreen', Venice Biennale. Asbestos was also a Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Fund Nominee (2013/14). bruceasbestos.info 35
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Catalogue of Exhibited Works
Koestler Awards 2020 1. Dead Planet I HM Prison Bristol Highly Commended Award for Printmaking 2. Dead Planet II HM Prison Bristol Highly Commended Award for Printmaking 3. Doing Time I HM Prison Glenochil Printmaking 4. Doing Time II HM Prison Glenochil Printmaking 5. Nae I Dear HM Prison Greenock Commended Award for Printmaking 6. Mary the Pigeon Atkinson Secure Unit Commended Award for Printmaking
7. Resting HM Young Offender Institution Feltham Commended Award for Printmaking 8. Oh Dem Onions HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc Commended Award for Printmaking 9. Faces of the Sad Man HM Prison Glenochil Printmaking 10. Reflections HM Prison Whatton Printmaking 11. Hope Eternal HM Prison Swaleside Sculpture 12. Heart Made of Stone HM Prison Bronzefield Sculpture
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Catalogue of Exhibited Works
13. Cleanse HM Young Offender Institution Feltham Sculpture
19. Equal Rights HM Prison Long Lartin Commended Award for Mixed Media
14. I Am The Phoenix HM Prison Eastwood Park Commended Award for Sculpture
20. Boris – Who's The Clown? HM Prison Warren Hill Bronze Award for Portrait
15. Thinking Man HM Prison Dovegate Highly Commended Award for Ceramics
21. Life Matters HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc Bronze Award for Painting
16. Without Hope Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre Commended Award for Ceramics 17. Strength, Dignity, Equality HM Prison Send Sculpture 18. The Virus HM Young Offender Centre Hydebank Wood Painting
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Catalogue of Exhibited Works
22. Ring Ring Banana Phone Koestler Arts Mentoring Scheme Silver Award for Portrait
National Justice Museum Collection 25. Billiard Table, 1997 Ray Scobie
Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Scholar 2019
26. To Myself The Future, To Myself The Past Childhood Artist Unknown
23. To Trumbo Worthing Probation Platinum Award for Calligraphy
27. Collage Part of a series created by men in HMP Lowdham Grange with artist David Lock
24. It is Always Darkest Before the Dawn HM Prison Wandsworth Calligraphy
28. Man Behind Bars Artist Unknown 29. Soap Carvings Artist Unknown One of a number of soap carvings featured in the exhibition.
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Power: Freedom to Create
Public Responses: in partnership with 64 Million Artists The National Justice Museum collection is shared generously and playfully as inspiration for creative activity. This gorgeous collection of intricate, joyful and ingenuous portraits was produced by people in response to the soap carvings in this exhibition.
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Public Responses: in partnership with 64 Million Artists
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Power: Freedom to Create
Power, Solidarity and the Freedom of Imagination Dr Antoinette Burchill (Artist and Writer) I want to think about how power, as the ability to do something, can be performed. Rather than consider what it is to be powerful and wield power over other human beings or to be power-less. I question how else can acts of power occur within the contexts of the justice system, the museum, and be communicated through artworks, objects, and acts of ingenuity. Political theorist Steven Lukes defines power as a relation act. This includes taking power over somebody else through ‘coercion’ or ‘force’; and having the authoritative power to change somebody else’s behaviour through ‘persuasion’ or ‘manipulation’1. Lukes distinguishes between types of power, and identifies that the level of conflict and the capacity to dominate may increase with the threat of violence or actual violence. Feminist Philosopher Amy Allen thinks about power and its ability to resist and ‘challenge and/or subvert domination’2. She identifies three forms of power: ‘power-over, power-to’ and power-with’3. In highlighting power taken with others, she focuses our attention on how we can act together, in allyship, and in solidarity with others to address a common concern or problem. Solidarity in times of loneliness, crisis, and/or social isolation can be key to getting through difficult periods. But what happens when you are dislocated from the ability to find solidarity with those you love? 1
Lukes, S. (1974) Power: a radical view. London: Macmillan. p 32. 44
A Commissioned Essay
Is it possible to find solidarity – as a form of solace and resistance – in making? Solidarity with objects; solace in making something from materials transformed with skill, patience and steadfast attention. Resistance, softly spoken, produced in humble everyday materials. Soap Portrait a carving into soap, excavating and shaping a domestically-familiar material. The portrait, maybe a self-portrait, a longed-for companion, or face of a loved one greets us faceon. The indirect gaze looks towards a place we cannot access. The figure’s expression flickers between vulnerability, sorrow, determination, the features worn-into the block of soap; muted and frozen in another space,in another time. But still present. The letters addressed To Myself The Future, To Myself The Past Childhood evoke the familiar materiality of an envelope. Painted in relief, the envelopes emerge through negative space, an outline separating the image from the background. The pair represent the past and the future, maybe as an act of redress, self-forgiveness, or to record a new understanding – one necessary to document before moving forward. These private letters create an imaginary holding space, specific to the individual artist, but also addressed to a version of Myself that we each share. The soap figure’s lips are closed and the envelopes to the letters are sealed; voiceless, silenced. Yet each artist will have stories, jokes, dreams, ambitions. How can we listen with empathy and intent? Can you take a moment to wonder what they have to say? Can you use the power you hold to stay with the art works and listen? Allen, A. (1999) The Power of Feminist Theory: Domination, Resistance, Solidarity. Boulder, CO: Westview. p. 126. 3 Allen 1999 p. 123. 2
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Power: Freedom to Create
Thanks and Acknowledgements A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who shaped and informed this coproduced exhibition with us. To the artists for their creativity and talent, our funders for enabling the project to be realised, and our partners at Koestler Arts for their support.
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What feelings do you experience when you’re making art?
“ If I can picture it I can do it, I feel powerful.” “ I feel full of love – love has gone into everything that I create.” “ Art can help me understand my feelings of confusion and anger, society sees me in a certain way and it conflicts with who I really am.” “ Fear, I might find myself if I look too hard.”
Extracts from a conversation between men at HMP Leicester and Curator, Andrea Hadley-Johnson exploring the meaning of creativity. With thanks to the men for their honesty and trust. 47
We leave you with a call to action. Create a powerful portrait using material you find around you. Let the making process transform a moment of your time into creative freedom. Share with the tag #NJMPower
nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk