Media Centre
Confined 4 Exhibition
Published 24 January 2012
Wednesday 8 February to Wednesday 7 March
The Gallery, St Kilda Town Hall
The premier visual arts exhibition featuring contemporary works by Indigenous prisoners in Victoria returns to St Kilda in 2012.
Confined is part of the Yalukit Willam Ngargee Festival and now in its fourth year, features contemporary works by Indigenous prisoners in Victoria.
Confined has emerged as an important event in Victoria’s visual arts scene and continues to illustrate the important role art plays in cultural expression and community connectedness. The exhibition demonstrates the significance of art in providing a space for cultural reflection and connecting Indigenous prisoners with country.
The rich visual works on show reflect the many different regions across Australia and the rich cultural diversity of the artist’s backgrounds.
Acting Mayor Cr Frank O’Connor says, “Confined exemplifies how art can be used as a tool for self expression and to empower artists and the community to connect with each other. By supporting this significant arts program, we can learn and celebrate artistic and creative expression.”
Kent Morris, Indigenous Arts Officer at The Torch, says “The Confined exhibition provides a valuable opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in prison to gain feedback on their art work, support their creative development and to provide them with a space for cultural expression.
“Additionally, it offers the arts sector and the wider community a chance to support emerging new artists and to learn about the experiences of prisoners.”
By providing a platform for Indigenous prisoners to showcase their work, the exhibition aims to highlight the issue of over representation of Indigenous people in prisons and to promote the practice of culture in rehabilitation.
Confined 4 will run from Wednesday 8 February to Wednesday 7 March at The Gallery, St Kilda Town Hall and is proudly supported by The City of Port Phillip, The Torch and The Department of Justice through Corrections Victoria.
The exhibition is funded jointly under a grant from the Australian Government, and through the Office for the Arts, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Sean Miller - Kangaroo
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MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Katie Elles, Media Adviser 9209 6163 0435 657 336 kelles@portphillip.vic.gov.au www.portphillip.vic.gov.au
