This week we welcomed Ai Weiwei, curator of the Koestler Arts: Freedom exhibition, to its home at Southbank Centre - containing 1800+ artworks by people within the criminal justice system... This year, the exhibition space has been transformed. Ai Weiwei’s design comprises fifteen cell spaces that are based on the size of a typical cell in a UK prison, which roughly measures 1.8m by 3m. 📅 Closes Sunday 18 December 2022 🔗 More information - link in bio 🎟️ Entry is free to all Ai Weiwei (@aiww) comments: “This exhibition focuses on the role that the act of thinking and creating plays in life under constraints. Notable works of art and literature in history were created when the artist was restricted, oppressed, and challenged, rather than being completely free. The language and feelings that emerged from these conditions are much more profound, convincing, and powerful. I visited different prisons in the UK and saw the living conditions of different kinds of prisoners. I hope that this exhibition can inspire people to reflect upon the loss of freedom and those that continue to create art to fight for space in life and freedom of expression despite adversity.” 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of @koestlerarts (formerly Koestler Trust), the UK’s best-known prison arts charity which encourages people within the criminal justice system to express themselves creatively and learn new skills by entering work into the annual Koestler Awards. Each year Koestler Arts receives more than 6,000 entries, in 52 creative categories. Entrants receive feedback and certificates, can be selected for public exhibitions and/or mentoring, and may sell their visual artwork. The exhibition is presented to the public by ex-prisoner exhibition hosts who have received specialist training to lead tours, answer questions and share their first-hand experience of the importance of art and creativity for those within the criminal justice system. 📸 by Stephen Pover #UnlockTheTalentInside #Freedom #AiWeiwei #KoestlerArts #KoestlerTrust #ArtInPrison #Creativity #Quote #QuoteOfTheDay #Prisons #Prison #Art #Gallery #GalleryOpening #Southbank #SouthbankCentre