Prison Outside


https://prisonspace.org/

Prison Outside is an independent international artistic research project focused on imprisonment, justice, and the role of the arts in the relationships between people in prisons and people outside. We are interested in perceptions of incarcerated persons in society, and how we can break the stereotypes and support them. We focus on artistic practices, be it prisoners’ own initiatives or designed educational projects that promote self-expression, solidarity and communication between people of all walks of life.

Prison Outside was founded in 2015. Since then I have worked with many artistis, communities and institutions, including Helsinki Prison, Esitystaiteen Keskus, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, and Aalto University to name a few. Since 2017 Prison Outside has been collaborating with Translation Is Dialogue project and its author Arlene Tucker, working together to create the ongoing art exchange and interactive exhibition Free Translation. 

----

Prison outside (Vankila ulkona) hanke on keskittynyt vankeuden ja oikeuden teemoihin, sekä taiteen rooliin vankilassa ja vankilan ulkopuolella olevien ihmisten suhteissa. Olemme kiinnostuneet vankien ja ex-vankien käsityksistä sekä havainnoista yhteiskunnasta, ja miten voimme murtaa stereotypioita sekä tukea toisiamme. Keskitymme taiteellisen työskentelyn menetelmiin, niin vankien omiin aloitteisiin kuin suunniteltuihin koulutuksellisiin projekteihinkin, jotka edistävät itseilmaisua, solidaarisuutta ja kommunikaatiota erila

Prison Outside on itsenäinen taide ja tutkimus -projekti, joka on perustettu Helsingissä vuonna 2015 visuaalisen taiteilijan Anastasia Artemevan yhteistyössä paikallisten ja kansainvälisten luovien ammattilaisten, tutkijoiden ja kouluttajien kanssa. Visuaalinen taiteilija ja kasvattaja Arlene Tucker liittyi hankkeeseen vuonna 2017.

Nykyiset projektimme ovat online-alustan Vapaa käännös - Free Translation - ja siihen liittyvät työpajat, blogin Prison Space, jossa kirjoitamme vankeuden ympärillä olevista taiteellisista projekteista, ja Prison Outside kansainvälisiä konferensseja Helsingissä. Olemme tehneet yhteistyötä sellaisten organisaatioiden kanssa, kuten Kriminaalihuollon tukisäätiö, taidekoulu MAA ja Moskovan valtion psykologian ja koulutuksen yliopisto.


---

Независимый научно-творческий проект Тюрьма Снаружи был основан в 2015 году. Он объединяет художников, музыкантов, преподавателей и исследователей. Мы изучаем темы социальной справедливости, лишения свободы, и роль искусства в отношении между людьми в тюрьме и за ее пределами. Объектом исследования являются как практики, инициированные самостоятельно, так и образовательные и культурные программы, которые проводятся организованно. Мы также исследуем отношение общества к заключенным и судимым людям, стигматизацию, и помощь в ре-социализации. С помощью нашей деятельности мы хотим поделиться опытом проведения социально-ангажированных художественных практик в во всем мире. 

С 2017 года Prison Outside сотрудничает с проектом Translation Is Dialogue и его автором Арлин Такер, работая вместе над созданием продолжающегося художественного обмена и интерактивной выставки Free Translation.

info(at)prisonspace.org



Out first project Invisible Neighbours (Näkkymättömät Naapurit) project took place in September – October 2015, in collaboration with Kalasataman Taidetalkoot community art project of Performance art centre Eskus and Annika Niskanen. The idea was to make a connection between the inmates of Helsinki prison Sörkka and the residents of the nearby blocks of flats. For the duration of six weeks, the two groups made and signed postcards for each other at the meetings held both inside and outside the prison. We talked about our living environments, shared recepies, composed haiku, drew with fresh blueberry juice and made collective self-portraits.


Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Words and Image, 2019

Free Translation is a multi-disciplinary exhibition showcasing international works generated from an open call to incarcerated people, ex-convicts, and anyone affected by imprisonment. It premiered at MAA-tila in Helsinki from November 15-29, 2018 as part of Prison Outside #2, and has since been showcased in Bokvilla, Helsinki and in Moscow State University of Psychology and Educaiton, Moscow, Russia. The exhibition also exists as an interactive online platform.

Free Translation exhibition makes use of the translation process as we interact and create new artworks in the gallery space and online. Your works on view will encourage the audience to prompt dialogue, inspire thoughts, and creatively activate the space. Your voice is heard and recognized.

The call for artworks is ongoing and open to all ages.

Your artistic contribution is very much appreciated. Works can be emailed to info@prisonspace.org or mailed to:

Free Translation
℅ Pixelache
Kaasutehtaankatu 1
00580 Helsinki
Finland

On the online gallery under each picture there is the possibility for you to interpret or comment on that piece.  It can be in text, visual, or video format. Your translations and interpretations inspires more thoughts, feelings, and perspectives to be shared and to be sparked.

In our monthly Free Translation Sessions we first view and discuss the artworks of Free Translation exhibition. After our own artworks are created by means of interpretation or  translation they are subsequently uploaded to the exhibition website. There they can be viewed by authors and the public, who will be able to create own response. To participate in the meeting, artistic skills are not required, and all materials are provided by the organizers. The “translation” will serve as inspiration for new feelings, thoughts and perspectives, and the creative interactions will continue.