Co-curated by learners from HM Prison Shotts
A Koestler Arts exhibition for Scotland
24 January – 26 February 2023
Tramway, Glasgow
We were delighted to return to Scotland for a show celebrating artwork from Scottish prisons and other establishments entered into the 2022 Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice. Tramway is an internationally acclaimed venue for contemporary visual and performing art, housed in a former tram depot. Koestler Arts last exhibited here in 2017, so we’re very excited to be returning in 2023.
To select work for this show, Koestler Arts partnered with Fife College – the National education provider, delivering learning in all public Scottish prisons. A group from HM Prison Shotts used their artistic and design skills to help select the main themes and artworks for this exhibition. They hope this exhibition expresses how much people who are in prison and other secure settings care about what is happening in the wider world.
“Our World is to share. Everybody’s got a part to play… not just a single individual.”
–Co-curator from HM Prison Shotts
Online Gallery
Tunnock’s Teacake Man
My coating’s tough but brittle.In my experience soft things are.
I’m delicate you see ‚Äì
A Tunnock’s teacake melody
Clothed in thin chocolate.
Marshmallow-like on the inside:
Mellifluous, creamy and fluffy smooth.
A little bit crunchy below?
Oh, that’s my biscuit foot.
When I’m annoying or angry,
Anxious or agitated.
My soft little crumbs get crushed up,
Melding to a rich, rough batter.
Lots of tiny sugar pebbles
Rub up against one another –
That’s when I’m found to be complex.
Difficult and hard to swallow.
Far too, far too, far too sweet.
It’s at times like these ‚Äì
Once I’m all munched and mashed ‚Äì
You’ll search with your tongue,
When I’m caught in your teeth.
HM Prison Perth
Commended Award for Poem
2022
Tunnock’s Teacake Man
Tunnock’s Teacake Man
HM Prison Perth
Commended Award for Poem
2022
The War
You could hear artillery fire again and again.Thunderous is the sound of killer war plane.
In the night there was a red glow.
A river of blood started to flow.
People can stand the heat of sun.
Yet none are left alive in front of the gun.
In the night people were attacked by fleet after fleet.
My heart hurts when it saw destruction; street after street
Hundreds of missiles were fired from afar.
At night they looked like a shooting star.
In the morning there was no one alive to stand brave.
Bodies without limbs, all were put into a mass grave.
Missiles were fired upon these villages like rain.
O my Lord, so much misery here and so much pain.
Why are these people killed? Does anyone know?
Was it just a big mistake? or is this, the work of a pro?
When you ask the culprits why has this happened? Why? Why?
You are not going to receive a truthful reply.
HM Prison Low Moss
Bronze Award for Poem
2022
The War
The War
HM Prison Low Moss
Bronze Award for Poem
2022
The Moon
Floating high above and glowing brightly in the night.The familiar warm glow imitates a big soft light.
The grey marks of craters, mountains and seas.
Welcoming and friendly they aim to please.
Our closest neighbour in space, an island on show.
Rarely visited a hard place for us to go.
A place of wonder and dreams once again on view.
How we wish to see our big blue marble anew.
It influences the tides and moods of people down here.
Immortalised in art word and song for many years.
We dream of visiting once again our friend our moon.
Perhaps we will make the trop once again very soon.
HM Prison Perth
Highly Commended Award for Poem
2022
The Moon
The Moon
HM Prison Perth
Highly Commended Award for Poem
2022
Seasons Initially
ShootsPlayfully
Rise
In
Newborn
Green
Sunbright
Umbel’s
Moxie
Manifesto,
Emerald
Republica.
Auburn
Unravellings,
Teasels
Unseed,
Mothering
Nature
Withered
Indices
Nestle
Treasure,
Evercoming
Renewal.
HM Prison Greenock
Commended Award for Poem
2022
Seasons Initially
Seasons Initially
HM Prison Greenock
Commended Award for Poem
2022
Loss
Cold wind whistles and whinesOld sinned heart heavily pines
A summer past of lost love
She’s risen now to Heaven above
Two footprints walk by the beach
A comforting kiss out of reach
My hand idles by my side
A single ticket for the seaside
Encumbered are these heavy shoulders
Pockets laden with weighty boulders
Memories once strong now fade
Blows over a grass blade
A meal for one in the microwave
No fare made with the love She gave
Aboard the bus a single fare
Travelling now to God knows where
Nights now Her voice unheard
Fireside chair by the hearth
Empty now of Her soul
My life will never be whole
HM Prison Castle Huntly
Highly Commended Award for Poem
2022
Loss
Loss
HM Prison Castle Huntly
Highly Commended Award for Poem
2022
Article 4
People with a dog loveA hug and a paw as
Food for its dish
Speeding up as meat
And found in his sleep
Dreaming on his feet
Leverndale Hospital
Commended Award for Poem
2022
Article 4
Article 4
Leverndale Hospital
Commended Award for Poem
2022
Anxiety Senses
Sounds like the noise from HellLooks like the Devil
Feels like the roughness of stones
Tastes like a burnt piece of toast
Smells like a newly lit fire
HM Prison Barlinnie
Commended Award for Poem
2022
Anxiety Senses
Anxiety Senses
HM Prison Barlinnie
Commended Award for Poem
2022
World Map
HM Young Offender Institution Polmont
Highly Commended Award for Mixed Media
2022
The Q
HM Prison Greenock
Platinum Award for Graphic Design
2022
Tree of Knowledge
HM Prison Dumfries
Highly Commended Award for Painting
2022
Seasonal Bliss
HM Prison Edinburgh
Platinum Award for Textile Art
2022
The Rampant King of Scotland III
HM Prison Kilmarnock
Commended Award for Printmaking
2022
The Pharaoh’s Calling
HM Prison Shotts
Bronze Award for Painting
2022
Tasty?
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Sweet & Sour
HM Prison Barlinnie
Highly Commended Award for Craft
2022
Swannie
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Grampian
Highly Commended Award for Craft
2022
Survival of the Fittest
HM Prison Kilmarnock
Silver Award for Pastel
2022
Still
HM Prison Inverness
Bronze Award for Pastel
2022
Stand Tall
HM Prison Greenock
Highly Commended Award for Drawing
2022
Spag Bland
HM Prison Edinburgh
Highly Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
Ruin Resurrection Ruin Restoration
HM Prison Perth
Commended Award for Drawing
2022
Prison Art For Peace
HM Prison Glenochil
Stockwell Silver Award for Sculpture
2022
Plant Still Life
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Commended Award for Mixed Media
2022
Out of This World
HM Prison Addiewell
Bronze Award for Painting
2022
Original and Best
HM Prison Kilmarnock
Commended Award for Textile Art
2022
No Shade Today
HM Prison Shotts
Silver Award for Painting
2022
Night Nurse
HM Prison Shotts
Bronze Award for Portrait
2022
My World
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Commended Award for Needlecraft
2022
Mental Health Screenprint
HM Prison Shotts
Charlton Bronze Award for Printmaking
2022
Me
HM Prison Addiewell
Bronze Award for Portrait
2022
Man Looking Out
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Grampian
Gold Award for Sculpture
2022
Making Waves
HM Prison Perth
Commended Award for Painting
2022
Linton Kwesi Johnson
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Portrait
2022
Lih Oh Lahm
HM Prison Shotts
Highly Commended Award for Painting
2022
Independence Day
HM Prison Perth
Bronze Award for Painting
2022
I’m in Trouble Now
HM Prison Dumfries
Commended Award for Watercolour & Gouache
2022
I Am What You Made Me
HM Prison Barlinnie
Commended Award for Mixed Media
2022
Highlight at Tea Time
HM Prison Glenochil
Commended Award for Printmaking
2022
Heritage Abstract
HM Prison Addiewell
Commended Award for Painting
2022
Henna Hand
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Sculpture
2022
Hashtag Art
HM Prison Greenock
Silver Award for Drawing
2022
Harry Trotter
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Sculpture
2022
Full Moon, Full Banana Moon
HM Prison Greenock
Commended Award for Mixed Media
2022
Flowers for Ukraine
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2022
Female
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Commended Award for Mixed Media
2022
Embryonic Heart
HM Prison Dumfries
Gold Award for Drawing
2022
Diva With A Gold Earring
Cupar Social Work Service
Bronze Award for Portrait
2022
Currant (Affair)
HM Prison Perth
Commended Award for Drawing
2022
Best Friend of Man
HM Prison Dumfries
Highly Commended Award for Sculpture
2022
Believe
HM Prison Perth
Highly Commended Award for Portrait
2022
Bearded Iris
HM Prison Edinburgh
Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2022
Auld Reekie
HM Prison Dumfries
Outstanding Debut Award for Drawing
2022
Art of Creation
HM Prison Barlinnie
Bronze Award for Mixed Media
2022
Ad Fast Food
HM Prison Addiewell
Commended Award for Ceramics
2022
A Study of Frogs
HM Young Offender Institution Polmont
Bronze Award for Drawing
2022
A Moment on the Lips
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Themed Category: Taste
2022
A Collection of Blind Drawings: Finding Essence
HM Prison Shotts
Bronze Award for Drawing
2022
