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Art from Inside 2022

Welcome to an Exhibition of prisoners’ artwork from around Australia. Our theme for 2022 was “Restoration”. We invite you to browse the artworks on this site in this online exhibition.

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Madiba
History’s most iconic peacemaker, the Nelson Mandela story is one of learning equality, devotion to democracy, and redemption. (Drawing)

Art from the Heart
My mother is recovering from breast cancer, so doing art is like my redemption, is a way for me to discover my new, healthy self. I would also like to use my art to raise money for my mother’s healthy recover.

Redemption
Our identity, and where we are form, shall not be judged upon, but being able to all come together and embrace it, and celebrate all together. (Painting)

Redemption
Doing this art takes me to a place where I would like to be in the future.

Friendships
In a vastly changing world, being adaptable and accepting in relationships is imperative to not only rehabilitations, but completes the cycle of redemption. Accepting people I their own place, and just existing with their ‘present’. (Oils on canvas)

Redemption
God is all loving and forgiving and by looking to Him we will find forgiveness and redemption from our sins and worries of this world. (Painting)

Redemption (Mandela)
Through hardships, sacrifices, and courage, no man can be held from their freedom. Mandela went to prison and came out to be a big figure in Africa, the President. That is redemption. (Painting)

A chance for a better life
My drawing represents most inmates’ lives. If they want a better life, God can change them. With God’s mercy through Jesus, they can be saved from the darkness, they need only trust in God and follow the teachings of Jesus to have a chance at a better, more meaningful life. (Drawing)

"On the 11th of February 1994, our entire school was called to the assembly hall and told by the headmaster that “the end of the world is here”. This was the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. His crime, fighting for freedom, rights, and equality for all people of colour, different views, and religions. I grew up knowing who Madiba was, a man of intelligence, unshakable faith, inner strength, dignity, humility, and kindness. 15% of the nation, the oppressors awaited the wrath of Mr Mandela upon his release, instead he showed nothing but forgiveness, kindness, solutions, and dignity. He gave redemption to an entire nation. We can all learn from this great man.

“Forgiveness liberates the soul it removes fear that's why it's such a powerful weapon.”
(Painting) — Rolihlahla “Nelson” Mandela
"On the 11th of February 1994, our entire school was called to the assembly hall and told by the headmaster that “the end of the world is here”. This was the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. His crime, fighting for freedom, rights, and equality for all people of colour, different views, and religions. I grew up knowing who Madiba was, a man of intelligence, unshakable faith, inner strength, dignity, humility, and kindness. 15% of the nation, the oppressors awaited the wrath of Mr Mandela upon his release, instead he showed nothing but forgiveness, kindness, solutions, and dignity. He gave redemption to an entire nation. We can all learn from this great man. “Forgiveness liberates the soul it removes fear that's why it's such a powerful weapon.” (Painting)

My Journey Through Redemption
My biggest struggle over the past six years has been trying to forgive myself. In an attempt to find redemption within myself, I crochet toys and beanies that get donated to charity. The thought that it might bring warmth and joy to someone in need gives me great comfort. (Applied Art)

Spiral of Life
The spiral is a journey and the hands are facing north, east, south and west. The hand in the middle though represents me, finding our creator Jesus Christ. (Painting)

My Heart wants Redemption
Redemption to me is from the heart with pink glitter. (Painting)

Through Christ I Am Saved
Drawing by Rose

Redemption through prayer
"I have placed each scripture on a cross which represents first, the Lord’s prayer. Through prayer there is hope, through hope there is peace, through peace there is God’s love, and through God’s love there is true redemption. Amen" (Painting)

Reach Out
When you feel like you are drowning, reach out to Him, for we have been created in His image. (Drawing)

The Cross
He was like us, he was sent by God to protect all of us from evil. He was baptized by John in the river Jordan. He called by Kingdom does not being to this world. He died on the cross for our bad sins, Jesus! (Painting)

Sh*t Happens
Sometimes in life we make a mistake, but if you are truly sorry and make amends, something beautiful might come of it. (Applied Art)

Teaching Young Ones About our Land
Taking young ones out brush and teaching them about our land culture is better than life in the city full of corruption. The elders need to be present in the young one’s lives to teach and pass on our culture. (Painting)

Life Again
We are the new from old. (Painting)

Rat Bobber – Bare Bones
Applied Art by Justin

Arms of Salvation
There is always a helping hand for those who ask help, those who need help, those who seek redemption, and even those who don’t. (Painting)

Jailbird
The artwork is about the stress and anxiety that inmates feel when they first arrive in prison. (3 panel painting)

The Shepard of the Redeemed
At the time of judgment Jesus Christ will judge us and forgive those who have sought redemption in him. Jesus blocks the path to hell and show us the way to heaven the goal of this picture is to us a sense of hope that there is forgiveness for their sins for those who have sought after redemption through Christ. (Drawing)

Death to the Chief Tax Collectors for their Wages of Sin
Redemption CANNOT be bought. It must be earnt. (Oils on canvas)

New Creation
The Hulk gives us a visual representation of 2 Corinthians 5:17, because he is created to protect and give strength to Bruce Banner just as anyone in Christ will come forth as a stronger new creation. (Drawing)

Past-Present…
The painting says it all! It shows the past of the bushland, but also the presence of the vehicle which represents redemption in the ‘Past-Present”. For me this painting is the beauty of the Cape York country, and the vehicle, a 1975 HJ Holden Premier. I lived on Cape York for several years and owned an old Holden which inspired me to do this painting. I hope you enjoyed it all as I did! (Painting)

Faith
This picture represents my faith, in finding my faith in Jesus Christ whilst at my lowet point in life. To Trust & Obey is to have faith in Him. I am alive, I have the Holy Spirit with me, and I am free in my saviour Jesus. (Drawing)

Salvation
This is an illustration of the Bible story in which Jesus casts out demons from the man, setting him free in front of the people of the town. This is the day his life begin again, and he was redeemed. (Painting)

Legacy
It’s a story about two nations coming together making an agreement that guy is from the Torres Strait Island and the girl an Aboriginal from the mainland Australia. (Painting)

Our Past is Still our Present

"The dot painting shows we are the oldest culture in the world and still strong. Our country is our freedom, remove the chains and bars and replace them with land and culture, that’s my redemption. Remove evil and replace with love."(Painting)

Creation
Through the roots of prison, new life can be created with God and art. (Painting)

United under the stars
We are all united under the starts. One nation, one country. All helping one another, looking out for one another, and caring for one another. (Painting)

Teaching How to Live Off the Land
Staying out on country and teaching young ones how to live off the land without mone or city problems. (Painting)

Was Blind, Now I See
On the dark side of the tile you’ve got people fighting, drugging, stealing, drinking, and crying, then you’ve got some people sitting around laughing, and urging everyone to keep entertaining them. On the bright side you’ve got family gathering, parents teaching their children a better life, groups of women sewing and weaving, fathers playing with their kids, and people praying to God for guidance and support for a better life. This is a cycle of a person moving from the dark side seeking redemption to go to the bright side. (Painting)

Redemption through Overcoming
God's redemption enables us to overcome and produce something beautiful. With God's light, he helps us grow from good soil. (Drawing)

Redemption
My painting represents my struggles in trying to break free from a life of drug abuse and crime. Through prayer and faith redemption is always possible to break free from these chains. (Painting)

Losing Culture
Pouring out the alcohol with the word saying redemption. The black rose representing the ending of the relationship with the alvohol which got the elder in jail. The act represents culture, traveling from one place to another. Jail is not for our elders. Land & country is for teaching and learning from. Our elders are our past and present. Old man taking a young man out bush to learn and go for initiation. (Painting)

Colour Change
My art is about domestic violence. The three hearts are the stages of redemption. Starting with the colour Blue which represents sadness, life in prison, and lonely, which then transcends to teal which represents heling, hope, and renewal, hence the bandages on the second heart which then move towards the colour yellow which represents happiness, change and the flowers representing a new beginning. (Painting)

"How can one be responsible for their actions when it takes a whole system to seek redemption, for a woman in the mother of all mankind."
(Drawing) — Redemption
"How can one be responsible for their actions when it takes a whole system to seek redemption, for a woman in the mother of all mankind." (Drawing)

The Restoration of one's self
Painting by Ben

Same Struggle
Two different cultures, we struggle, suffer and together we survive. We unite as one mob, two cultures coming together, still standing strong. (Painting)

Roads to Redemption
There are many roads which lead to redemption and no matter where we begin a path exists. (Drawing)

Redemption in Love
This is my expression of redemption in love. (Painting)

"The time on the watch and the watch itself represent both redemption, and the time I was sentence t in jail. The roses are for each family member and friend I have last while being in jail and the vines represent the life I am tangled up in."
(Painting) — Redemption Theme
"The time on the watch and the watch itself represent both redemption, and the time I was sentence t in jail. The roses are for each family member and friend I have last while being in jail and the vines represent the life I am tangled up in." (Painting)

"
My thirst for knowledge exceeds pages. My desire to feel the trials suffered the trials suffered by persecuted peoples throughout the dawn of time led me to on a journey through my paint brush. I felt Mary’s prophecy. Young, and unknown she became a Martyr, despite her own journey beyond redemption. Always to carry her lamb into a world of unknowns. (Oils on canvas)" — Mary was a Refugee
" My thirst for knowledge exceeds pages. My desire to feel the trials suffered the trials suffered by persecuted peoples throughout the dawn of time led me to on a journey through my paint brush. I felt Mary’s prophecy. Young, and unknown she became a Martyr, despite her own journey beyond redemption. Always to carry her lamb into a world of unknowns. (Oils on canvas)"

Old Self Receiving Holy Spirit
Broken man looks down in sorrow with no hope, but he receives salvation, and the comforter descends upon him giving him hope for tomorrow. (Painting)

Drowning
When you are drowning in sin, seek redemption and be saved. (Drawing)

Redemption
Drawing is my form of healing in jail, along with the prayer and meditation ,therefore I was drawn to draw that which resonates with my soul. This drawing was completed with all that I had, a single HB pencil. (Drawing)

I’ve Seen the Light
When I first enter jail, I was ashamed, broken, and saw everything in muted colours. Overtime my journey has been humbling, I started to forgive myself, and began to see colour. Getting back with my spiritual side has shone further light in readiness for my new journey. This is my redemption story. (Painting)

The Road to Redemption
Finding God and redemption. (Drawing)

Words of Good…And the Son…Jesus!
When the explorers came to Australia, the came with the law and the word of God the Holy Bible. The dove is the gift from God, with love, respect, trust and peace. The Cross represents forgiveness of our sin. (Painting)

A City After the Return of Jesus
The earth will be a new creation, the old city of man has passed away, behold the new city. (Painting)

Doing Time, to Go Home and be a Mum
It’s my first time in prison. I have been a full-time mum for 13 years and not missing a moment of my children’s lives. I wanted for 23 months 4 days to receive my sentence, and now I am serving 15 months in jail. I need to get my time done so I can get back home to being a mum and have my family all together again. I currently have my 1 year old son in here with me where it feels more like a home than jail. The Poem in the painting represents my feelings daily. (Applied Artwork/Painting)

Immature Dinosaur
That’s me 😊 I will never lose my childlike love for dinosaurs. God created all. (Pencil on Prison paper)

Kairos
When all else fades or fails on the outside God steps in on the inside. “Kairos” = Special time or appointed time, a word that describes the events rather than by clock or calendar. (Painting)

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“… for people drowning within a system of noise – lacking in communication skills – art may be the last communication device. It becomes a piece of the potential for peaceful holistic rehabilitation.

Sarah Tucker
Keynote speaker, Art from Inside 2020