The Koestler Arts annual exhibition, Rock, Paper, Scissors, is the first to feature a selection curated by members of the Parental Imprisonment Collective (PIC), a group of young adults who experienced parental imprisonment during childhood. The free-to-enter show, at The Undercroft, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX, until November 29, includes some 200 of the 7,500-plus artworks submitted to the Koestler Awards, the country’s longest-running prize programme for art made in prisons, secure hospitals, young offender institutions, and by people on probation.
Curatorial Vision and Themes
The collective said: “We’ve come together to curate an exhibition that charts a journey of life from childhood onwards, and the different paths a life can take. We hope we’ve interpreted the work in a way the artists themselves would recognise. When people go through the exhibition, we want them to think differently about what it means to grow up with a parent in prison. We also want visitors to remember that everybody in prison was once a child too. They are not just the sum of their sentence.”
The challenge, as noted in the review, is to consider the complex human stories behind the art. The collective’s curation aims to highlight the varied experiences of those affected by parental imprisonment, moving beyond stereotypes to present a nuanced view of life inside and outside prison walls.
Support and Artistic Range
PIC are supported by the Prison Advice and Care Trust, a charity working with children and families affected by parental imprisonment. The show, as in previous years, presents stories of “creativity, imagination, humour, vulnerability and hope” with a rich variety of original visual art, poetry, prose, and more.
The exhibition’s title, Rock, Paper, Scissors, suggests a playful yet strategic engagement with chance and choice, mirroring the unpredictable paths that lives can take. Visitors are invited to explore the works and reflect on the artists’ experiences, as well as the curators’ personal connections to the themes.
Exhibition Details and Access
Rock, Paper, Scissors is at The Undercroft, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX, and runs until November 29. Admission is free. For further details and events, see the Koestler Arts website at www.koestlerarts.org.uk. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to engage with art created in secure settings, curated by those with lived experience of the criminal justice system’s impact on families.
