Freedom of Expression @ The OXO Towers

Photography of prison cell graffiti revealing the innermost thoughts of hardened criminals over decades of incarceration in one of South Africa’s toughest jails. Seemed like the perfect subject matter for the Oxo Towers Gallery on a Thursday night? But this was so much more.

The photographer, Karl Schoemaker, was granted unlimited access to the prison in Port Elizabeth that had been boarded shut for decades. A time capsule of art on the walls revealing the depravity, optimism, hatred and hope perfectly preserved as it served its time. The images are visually intoxicating, mentally stimulating - never allowing your eye to settle as you take in layers of criminal depravity that lies in the detail of these beautiful compositions.

For the reveal at the Oxo Towers Gallery in London the images were shown to the poet & singer LyricL who immersed herself in the content to create the most incredible spoken word poetry to each image which she performed which had the audience hanging on every word.

With text playing such a major role in the compositions the marriage of spoken word poetry and artwork was a masterstroke of seamless integration that allowed the viewer a brief insight into the mindset of those held within those four small walls.

The Moving Assembly Project facilitated this event with their aim to stimulate cultural sharing of the Arts between the UK and Africa. The Freedom of Expression exhibition is open until the 14 April - make it if you can.