I’m Still Here


Moving exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall of work by people in prison.

It was organised by the Koestler Trust a prison arts charity which awards, rewards, exhibits, sells & champions arts by prisoners, secure patients & detainees to help them transform their lives. This annual show asked nine family members supporting people though a sentence to choice work produced in the year.

There were some lovely work in the show but it’s value lay more in what is was saying and what producing it had meant to the artists. Some of it was hard to look at as you were looking at peoples’ anxieties played out before you. It was a nice touch to include poetry as well as paintings and sculptures.

I loved one picture called “Storm in a Glass of Water” which showed a drop of paint falling from a brush into a glass of water and forming a wonderful landscape, such a clever idea and exquisitely painted. I also liked this beautifully painted apples and biscuits using a metal plate as their canvas. Also a big shout out to the wood work produced at HM Prison Standford Hill who showed two beautiful, intricate boxes made there and a lovely clock.

Closed on 4 November 2018


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