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International success for New Zealand prison art

17 September 2009
Prison art is a lot more than a recreational experience for two New Zealand prison artists, Graham of Wellington and Desmond of Canterbury, whose works have been recognised in an international competition and exhibition in Vienna, Austria.

Artwork by Graham, recognised in the Iinternational Prisoners Art Competition The two works were among 1200 selected artworks from 45 participating countries in this year’s International Prisoners Art Competition and Signs of Life exhibition. A panel of five judges chose the best works from the represented countries.

Five New Zealand works were forwarded to the international competition. These were selected earlier this year from 50 entries in the 2009 New Zealand Prisoners Art Competition, organised by the Prison Chaplaincy Service of Aotearoa New Zealand in association with the New Zealand Prison Chaplains Association.

Desmond's artwork, recognised in the International Prisoners Art CompetitionGraham's orange land and cityscape,  described as a very skilled work, was among the top 70 works in the international exhibition. Desmond's heavily worked pencil drawing, featuring torn rose buds among the thorns, was highly commended. 

These works reflect an emerging New Zealand prison art voice and skill. Dr Andrew Miles, Centre for Research on Socio-cultural Change, University of Manchester, says: “Arts projects in prisons and resettlement are nothing new. They have been making an impact for many years. The arts are particularly good at furnishing the foundations for change. They build confidence and self- awareness, trust, co-operation and respect – vital capacities when it comes to reforming attitudes and behaviour, and developing resilience in vulnerable people.” 

This is the second International Prisoners Art Competition, initiated in 2005 by the International Commission for Catholic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCHPP). 

The Prison Chaplaincy Services Association of New Zealand, along with the International Prison Chaplaincy Association, continue to endorse ICCPPC in this initiative and support the positive effect of art in prisons as a tool for the rehabilitation of prisoners.