Beyond the bars, to the canvas

Having visited Medak Jail Museum and seen the art on crime-oriented landmark events contributed by art students, it made me wonder if art by the inmates themselves would be more impactful.

Krishnakriti Foundation and Telangana State Prisons Department came together a few years ago to create an art rehabilitation programme. The resulting paintings are on show till today at Kalakriti Art Gallery.

Artist Sayyad Shaiek, who holds a masters in fine arts, was asked by Prshant Lahoti to teach around 450 inmates across the two jails in 2016; but the current exhibition holds the works of 30. Overwhelmed, Sayyad says, “When Prshant Lahoti asked me, I was nervous; what do I say, what do I do, how to interact with them? I was both scared and nervous. I usually conduct workshops but this was something very different.”

The artist recalls his first day as being a memorable experience. “I saw many nervous faces. But later we bonded through the teaching and learning process. I got to understand their psychology and each time they were attending a class, it really was a different paradise for them.”

Regular lessons twice a week built a great rapport with his unique students.

Sayyad, who received a Kalakriti art scholarship a while back, first introduced the inmates to pencil and paper sketches, staggeringly followed by other mediums. “They were first observing and portraying their surroundings — plants, ants, the area around the jails. Then, because they read the newspapers, they were portraying heroes and heroines, which really made me happy. They were also doing landscapes and mythological art. They were getting lost in some of their own work and putting aside their stressful worries.” Sayyad is looking forward to doing more work with the inmates.

Jailor Shobhan Babu Roopani shares that the reformation has been a blessing, and adds, “These men are from poor backgrounds and they are constantly worrying about their families. Building up these different talents, talents they didn’t know they had before this programme is great to see. We provide food, shelter and counselling but this is a different therapy for them and they can also support their families through sale of the artworks.” The exhibition features works of male inmates but Shobhan says projects featuring the work of women inmates are in the offing.

Though today is the last day of the exhibition, this is just the first step of something more significant — the country’s burgeoning awareness of those who need a second chance to survive and to sustain their families.

Art reform around the world

Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) is a New York City-based organisation founded by Katherine Vockins in 1996, where focus is spread across theatre, dance, fine arts and music.

New Delhi had 80 criminals flown in to India’s flagship prison, Tihar Jail, from prisons in six states to hone their artistic talent under the guidance of 18 professional painters.

The Art and Prisons Network was launched in Ireland by Create Initiative, jointly funded by Arts Council and Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform-Visual Artists in Irish Prisons Scheme and Writers in Prison Scheme.

Angela Findlay has long been running the art reform programme Art in Prison in both England and Germany.