Art For Redemption: Artworks Made By Inmates
Creating artwork and being an artist should not be limited and based on freedom, capabilities, and places. Inmates’ creations exhibit different interpretations of art that we should appreciate.
Art For Redemption: Artworks Made By Inmates
Recognizing art from prison means not just giving value to the visuals of objects that we see; it also means allowing ourselves to try a new standpoint in life. It shows how people inside the prison cells are coping and redeeming themselves through their pints of color and collections of scratches.
Cope, Redeem, and Earn
What is it like to stay locked inside a room with no chance of seeing the outside world? It must be draining with a loud noise. Inmates can cope by making art. They can explore their inner selves and manage their traumas. Also, some prisons require inmates to make artwork to make money and get donations. In this way, inmates can work and provide for their families.
Art Exhibits
Similar to other art pieces, the artworks of inmates are recognized and showcased in many exhibits. Usually, exhibits and art competitions help both the organizations and the artists, as they will earn money and build their programs. They would get inspiration and motivation to do more pieces after having the platform to showcase their styles.
Kulay, short term for kulay at layunin, is a group of artists represented at the Bureau of Corrections. The group was founded in 2000 with the help of the late artist Mauro “Malang” Santos.
New Skill and Therapy at the Same Time
Making artwork serves as therapy for some inmates since painting, drawing, and carving keep their hands and minds occupied.
Although physically nandito kami sa loob, pero doon po sa artworks namin, puwede namin mapalaya ang aming kaisipan.
Pedrito “Ding” Peñalosa, the vice president of Kulay (2017), who also works as an art teacher at the New Bilibid Prison’s alternative learning school via CNN Philippines.
After their sentence terms, these people will live outside again. This is the time when they can make use of their learned skills from prison.
Gusto ko pagbalik ko sa malayang lipunan, mayroon naman akong magiging panibagong buhay … kung saan [maipagmalaki] ko [na] ‘yung buhay na ‘yun ay galing dito, at puwede ko iharap kahit kanino.
Pedrito “Ding” Peñalosa, the vice president of Kulay (2017), who also works as an art teacher at the New Bilibid Prison’s alternative learning school via CNN Philippines.
Not all people inside jailhouses are bad and indecent, as do their artworks. Some of them shouldn’t be inside, but because of the unfair system, access to justice is based on how much a person can pay.
Appreciate Art!
