In partnership with the Doing Porridge project at University of Surrey
A Koestler Arts exhibition by women in the criminal justice system
21 January – 5 March 2023
South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell
Koestler Arts partnered with the University of Surrey to showcase an art exhibition all about food in women’s prisons and other settings at South Hill Park in Berkshire. This arts centre is home to two theatres, a cinema, artist studios and gallery spaces, set within sprawling parkland.
Surrey’s Department of Sociology carried out a large research project in 2022/2023 called ‘Doing Porridge: Understanding women’s experiences of food in prison’. Their work explored food practices in prison, as well as the social and cultural meanings of food for individuals, through interviews, observations, focus groups and art workshops in several UK women’s prisons.
This creative, culinary exhibition about food inside and outside the criminal justice system combined art made in the research project’s creative workshops and pieces entered into the 2022 Koestler Awards. Together, the artworks reveal the many memories and meanings that food can hold – joyful, tantalizing, nostalgic, complicated…
Listen
Listen to the Doing Porridge Podcast: Project Art Exhibition episode, recorded at the On My Plate private view, and hear reactions from exhibition visitors and supporters to the work on display.
Listen hereDoing Porridge Research Findings
This short 3 minute animation was produced by Nifty Fox Creative for the Doing Porridge project, highlighting the findings of their research. It features vignettes from three women (Billie, Jasminder and Louise), who show how food interlinks with women’s identity, culture and sense of self in secure settings.
Online Gallery
Results of prison cuisine
What a fantastic dinnerLamb chops, salad and chips.
I enjoyed every meal,
As it heads to my hips.
Finished with chocolate cake
And a blob of fresh cream.
Oh, why did I have to wake up?
It was such a lovely dream!
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Askham Grange
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Results of prison cuisine
Results of prison cuisine
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Askham Grange
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Prison Food
The smell of my grandad is like fresh mowed grass.You know when he is coming by the sound of his voice from afar.
The sight of my grandad is like a BFG. He has hair like a rug on the top of his head and that is why I call him Rughead.
His touch is a bit heavy-handed but he is a big softie inside.
The taste of his cooking is always mouth-watering. He cooks sweet and savoury goodness but his sweet cooking always tastes the best.
from ‘Real Retribution (Raw + Uncut)’
HM Prison Downview
John S. Dales Highly Commended Award for Anthology
2022
Prison Food
Prison Food
from ‘Real Retribution (Raw + Uncut)’
HM Prison Downview
John S. Dales Highly Commended Award for Anthology
2022
Cheese-grater Car
Is our well-being really a concern,With so many calories for us to burn?
Too much potato, rice, pastry and bread –
If we ate it all, we’d end up dead,
Or obese, unfit and more often ill
Requiring insulin and diet pills!
Our weight will creep up and take us by stealth
Unless we increase our fitness and health.
We need better options: more salad and fruit,
An exercise regime for fitness would suit.
Our nutritional needs prisons aren’t meeting;
They should be promoting healthier eating.
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Cheese-grater Car
Cheese-grater Car
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
You are what you eat
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
This Is What the Taste of Fruit Cocktail Looks Like to Me
Trevor Gibbens Unit
Themed Category: Taste
2022
The Wasteful Taste of Consumerism
HM Prison Bronzefield
Clare Askew Platinum Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
What I Miss (parts 1 and 2)
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Doing Porridge Artwork
Watermelon Sugar High
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Sculpture
2022
Taste
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Toffee Cake
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
Time for a Cuppa
from ‘Real Retribution (Raw + Uncut)’
HM Prison Downview
John S. Dales Highly Commended Award for Anthology
2022
This Is What the Taste of Popping Candy Looks Like to Me
Trevor Gibbens Unit
Themed Category: Taste
2022
This is my coffee, but where is my cake and ice cream?
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
There it is! My cake and ice cream. Just what I wanted!
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
The two holy trinities of a prison diet
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Doing Porridge Artwork
Results of prison cuisine
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
The Fox’s Picnic
HM Prison Peterborough
Themed Category: Taste
2022
The Bitter Sweet Taste of War
HM Prison Eastwood Park
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Tasteful Tongue
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Bronze Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Taste Tree
HM Prison Peterborough
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Taste the Rainbow
Edenfield Centre, Prestwich Hospital
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Taste of Freshness
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Taste of Freedom
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Askham Grange
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Taste Fruit Bowl
HM Prison Peterborough
Craft
2022
Taste for Your Waist
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Prison Food
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Doing Porridge Artwork
Target
Arbury Court
Silver Award for Painting
2022
Sweet Tooth
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Sunday Dinner at Mum’s
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Sculpture
2022
Suave Banana
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Doing Porridge Artwork
Space Taste
HM Prison Send
Painting
2022
Slice of Cake
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Raspberry Dream
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Rapunzel Cake
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Prisoner Jam Tart
HM Prison Peterborough
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Mr & Mrs
HM Young Offender Centre Hydebank Wood
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Prison Belly
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution East Sutton Park
Doing Porridge Artwork
Pomme d’Amour
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Marmite
Wellesley Hospital
Jeremy Hutchinson QC Platinum Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Plastic Fantastic!
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
Pineapple’s Not For Pizza
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Pineapple
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution East Sutton Park
Doing Porridge Artwork
Pair of Sweet Peppers
HM Prison Eastwood Park
Themed Category: Taste
2022
My Taste (Flavour)
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Themed Category: Taste
2022
My Cell Window
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
Mixed Dinner Time
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Memories of Better Days
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Sculpture
2022
Loads of Lollies
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Gold Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Language of Taste
Edenfield Centre, Prestwich Hospital
Silver Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Knittedbockerglory
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Iced Doughnuts
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
I want to forage
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
How to cook in a microwave
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
HMP Bullets
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
Hey Johnny
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
H.M. Tea
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Sculpture
2022
Guilty Pleasures — Tea, Cakes and Tarts
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Gold Delicious
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Fresh Fruit
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
Feeling Peckish
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Fear of Food
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Doing Porridge Artwork
ESP
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution East Sutton Park
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Drink Me
Isle of Man Prison
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Diabetic Nightmare
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Delicious
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Covid Has No Taste
HM Prison Eastwood Park
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Cheese-grater Car
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal
Doing Porridge Project
Citrus Zest
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Choices
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
Chocolate Dreams
HM Prison Downview
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Cheese on Toast
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Celebration Cake
HM Prison Bronzefield
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Breakfast on a Plate
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Box of Chocolates
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution New Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Blueberries and Strawberries
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
Blue Plate
HM Prison Send
Doing Porridge Artwork
Bird Nest Soup
HM Young Offender Institution Polmont
Themed Category: Taste
2022
Big Breakfast
HM Prison Bronzefield
Highly Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Banana
Victoria Gardens
Themed Category: Taste
2022
All I want is a fresh glass of milk
HM Prison Downview
Doing Porridge Artwork
Adam’s Apple
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Sculpture
2022
A Taste of ESP
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution East Sutton Park
Themed Category: Taste
2022
A Spoon Full of Soup
HM Prison Foston Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
A Matter of Taste
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
3D Fruitbowl
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Themed Category: Taste
2022
