Prisoners in Ethiopia have been shedding light on remarkable people who made a huge contribution to our world, writes Fr Paddy Moran CSSp
Recently an exhibition of Irish prison art was put on display in the historic Kilmainham Gaol. The exhibition was entitled ‘Unlock’ and was described as a “showcase of the work of Irish prisoners and prison teachers revealing a more positive side of prison life”. A most excellent idea to celebrate that which is positive.
Over in Ethiopia another exhibition connected with a prison art programme is going on at present.
A number of years ago the Spiritans began an art project in Arba Minch prison in southern Ethiopia. On six occasions Irish artists were brought over to teach the male and female prisoners. The classes were a great foundation for a programme that continues to this present day.
As well as those who paint full-time in the prison there are now three painters who have left the prison and are now working full-time as artists. One of those released artists, TesfaMichael Yohannes, recently was commissioned to create a series of paintings to be exhibited in a new public library in Arba Minch. He created the ‘Genius collection’ as a celebration of extraordinary people who have made enormous contributions to our world.
TesfaMichael is the fruit of the prison art programme. He learnt his skills as a prisoner but was determined to carry that learning into life after prison. As well as developing his own art practice he also as a free man returns to the prison three days a week to teach other prisoners how to paint. This is his collection.
Fr Paddy Moran CSSp was a missionary in Ethiopia for eleven years. Presently he is the Vocations Director for the Spiritans in Ireland. For more information on becoming a Spiritan missionary his e-mail is youth@spiritan.ie