JOHANNESBURG (AP) — When most people think of prison, they picture steel bars, locked gates and lost freedom. But at a correctional facility in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, visitors are greeted by something unexpected: an art gallery.The exhibition of inmates’ artwork is part of the country’s effort to reduce repeat offending through rehabilitation programs behind bars. The Department of Correctional Services has opened nine prison arts-and-crafts galleries since 2023, aiming to help inmates develop skills, earn income and prepare for life after release.Inside Leeuwkop Correctional Facility, artwork created by 34 inmates is on display for visitors, offering a glimpse into stories of culture, memory and personal transformation in a country struggling with one of the world’s highest crime rates. Inmates also have chances to see each other’s work.
“I get a peaceful and healed mindset when I do my art,” one inmate, Freddy Mongkoai, told The Associated Press. “It encourages me to be strong and present. I can focus, so it gives me peace of mind.”Mongkoai, 51, has served nearly two years of a 12-year sentence for murder after taking part in an act described as vigilante justice. He joined the prison’s art program in October. Since then, he has experimented with painting and papier-mâché sculpture.His latest piece is a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy.
