Mother and Sons

Caption

The colours chosen reflect the painted Victorian brick walls and the historical layers of blue and orange paint covering the metal cell door. The picture is made of basic found materials and reflects the daily life of many prisoners who have to use what basic resources they have to get by.

Medium

Mixed media

Form

Framed artwork

Artist / Maker

Paul, HMP Liverpool

Why have we collected this work?

We want to understand what these prisons are like to live and work in, and how has this changed over time. We are examining the ways that these prison buildings carry traces of the past, while operating in the present day.

The project considers how and why these buildings have survived for so long, and asks how we will know when they have reached the end of their operational lives. We consider the significance of the Victorian prison in shaping public and professional ideas of what prison should be like. Crucially, this project explores the implications of the continued operation of Victorian-era prisons for the contemporary prison service, and aims to inform policy development.

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