Artwork by prisoner from the Great Southern included in 2023 Revealed Exhibition

Artworks by a prisoner from the Great Southern have been included in the 2023 Revealed Exhibition at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Paintings by two WA prisoners were selected for the exhibition which opened on May 6. The annual exhibition sees the involvement of new and emerging Aboriginal artists from across the State, chosen for display by a judging panel. The inmate from the Great Southern region has three of their artworks selected for the exhibition and another prisoner artist had two artworks on display. The works in this year’s exhibition were chosen by a panel that included FAC visual art curator and Nhanda and Noongar man Glenn Iseger-Pilkington. Mr Iseger-Pilkington said he could see a sense of freedom in the two artists’ works. “There was a sense of being a space for them to dream and to think about country and community,” Mr Iseger-Pilkington said. “It’s really great to see rich, dynamic and interesting work coming out of the prison system.” One of the prisoner artists said he could “see the past and the present reflected in my artwork”. The other prisoner said he did not take up painting until later in life. “Painting gives me some peace, some calm,” he said. “I believe I’m reconnecting and honouring my ancestors in my country.” The 2023 Revealed Exhibition is on at the Fremantle Arts Centre until July 23.