Cruel and Unusual
Worldwide, prisons are ʻhomeʼ to more than 9 million people, and their numbers will only increase over the coming decades. But what do our various societies seek to accomplish by locking up such massive numbers of offenders? From 18 February through 1 April, in Cruel and Unusual Noorderlicht Photo Gallery presents revealing, and quite unexpected photography dealing with life behind bars. For this exhibition the guest curators Hester Keijser and Pete Brook have brought together work by eleven women photographers, most of which has never before been shown in Europe. As background for the exhibition Noorderlicht is publishing a newspaper with articles, interviews and extra photo material. Andrea Stultiens will conduct the opening on 17 February, at 5:00 p.m.
Cruel and Unusual looks at how the prison system is presented in images, and how these images are created, distributed and consumed. How do citizens – tax payers and empathetic humans – come to an understanding of life in prisons on the basis of the information – politicized or not – which they receive? Cruel and Unusual takes a startling and sometimes disconcerting look behind various prison walls around the world. Each photographer confronts her viewers in her own way with the question of how current practices of mass incarceration of offenders reflects our changing sense of decency and justice.
Cruel and Unusual Punishment. The title of the exhibition refers to the English Bill of Rights from 1689 and the Eighth Amendment to the America constitution, which stipulates that citizens must not be subject to ʻcruel and unusual punishmentʼ. But when is punishment cruel and unusual? To assist in the public discussion of this issue, photography helps by providing insight into the various facets that play a role in the question.
Participating photographers. The photographers selected, Araminta de Clermont, Amy Elkins, Alyse Emdur, Christiane Feser, Brenda-Ann Kenneally, Jane Lindsay, Deborah Luster, Nathalie Mohadjer, Yana Payusova, Lizzie Sadin and Lori Waselchuk, each use their own strategies, materials and techniques. Given the extent of access to prisons, they work with amateur photography, alternative processes, texts, painted images, digital manipulation or traditional black and white documentary photography. Much of the work is being shown in The Netherlands and Europe for the first time.
Catalogue. Cruel and Unusual is accompanied by a unique catalogue in the form of a newspaper. In addition to visual material from the main exhibition, the publication includes articles, blogs, interviews, sketches and supplemental material from other photographers who Pete Brook has come across during Prison Photography on the Road.
Exhibition. Noorderlicht Photo Gallery, Groningen, The Netherlands. From 18 February to 1 April 2012. Find out more here