Art from behind prison confines

A STINT in prison changes a person, for better or worse. For Indonesian artist Angki Purbandono, 42, it marked a new direction in his art-making, and the art that resulted is a visually stunning installation with poignant stories behind the works.

The Swimmers by Angki and his collaborators in the Prison Art Programme (PAP) are not just crafty objects put together to make one feel good that prisoners are being gainfully occupied and creatively stimulated, but tells stories of life in prison as it is.

"It's about how we lived and survived being far away from loved ones. In my experience with my fellow inmates and listening to their stories, I think of the inmates as swimmers who are looking for shore so they can carry on with their lives," said the artist in an e-mail interview from Jogjakarta, about the title of the show.