The Koestler Arts’s 16th annual UK exhibition opens at the Southbank Centre this week. ‘In Case of Emergency’ is curated by award-winning poet Joelle Taylor, and features nearly 200 artworks by artists in prison and other secure establishments from across the UK.
The exhibition, in partnership with the Southbank Centre, draws attention to themes of separation and connection through a series of glass cases and vitrines, inviting the public to metaphorically ‘break the glass’ and overcome barriers to creativity.
The scheme has been awarding talent and creativity by individuals in prisons, secure mental health facilities, immigration removal centres, young offender institutions, and on community sentences, across the UK since 1962. Through their programme of exhibitions, they work to debunk stereotypes and demonstrate the human value and potential of people in the criminal justice system.
Curated by award-winning poet Joelle Taylor
Having worked creatively in prisons for over twenty years, Joelle Taylor’s motivation for this year’s exhibition is to showcase the talent and imagination that springs from secure settings. Choosing from over 8,000 pieces sent into this year’s Awards, the poet selected artworks that showcase both excellence and ingenuity. These qualities are shown in different ways by the artists, through concept, skill and story-telling, as well as through the use of unusual materials that highlight their resourcefulness. These include artworks made from crisp packets, prison issue soap, rice, seeds and even clinical waste bags.
Separation and Connection
Shaped by her own work, the poet’s focus settled on the concept of encasement to explore themes of separation and connection. Taylor was keen to explore how things are presented, contained and scrutinised and this is reflected in the design of the exhibition, where artworks are encased in various ways. Ten table vitrines contain many of the artworks, creating a clinical and imposing environment. In the same space, large metal structures are used to hang pieces of work and present 3D artworks. While these structures support the imposing atmosphere created by the vitrines, they also represent a change to the encasement of the artworks. The structures are not covered by glass or Perspex and only serve to frame the artworks. In this way, visitors will be invited to think about how it feels to be on either side of the glass as they become framed by the structures, too.
The title, ‘ In Case of Emergency’, encourages visitors to complete the well-known phrase with ‘break glass’. This will be reinforced at the end of the exhibition, where artworks are no longer ‘encased’ but are now free from this constraint. “When I see these cases, it makes me think of what happens when we break the glass, what happens when ideas escape,” said Joelle Taylor, curator of the show and previous Koestler Awards judge. The hope is that the exhibition reinforces the idea that creativity does have the power to break down barriers and by engaging with the artworks, visitors are bringing this action to life.
Taylor adds, “I’ve spent about twenty years now working in prisons so I’m aware of the vast range and diversity of arts that are created within the criminal justice system, and the opportunity to be able to introduce that to a wider public is compelling.
“I think people should come to the exhibition to be in the presence of excellence. And then the secondary reason is I want people to challenge their understanding of who prisoners are, who inmates are, who residents of secure units are. They are part of humanity, and a vibrant part, and through that I want them to question the way that we operate the criminal justice system as well. But excellence and life and humanity – that’s why you should come.”
In Case of Emergency, 2 November – 17 December 2023
Southbank Centre Exhibition Space, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall.
For more information visit: www.koestlerarts.org.uk or @koestlerarts